Opioids I

In 1957 Otto SCHAUMANN, one of the pionieers in pharmacological research on morphine and the first to prepare synthetic opiates, presented a mono graph entitled "Morphin und morphiniihnliche Verbindungen" as Volume 12 of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. Now, 35 years later, we are publishing in the same series a new comprehensive volume covering the present status of opioid research. Since that time the topic has expanded enormously. The identification of opioid receptors and the detection of their endogenous ligands were landmarks which opened a new era in opioid research and fertilized the entire field of neurobiology. The rapid develop ment of this field is illustrated in the figure, which represents the number of papers published on opioid research since 1970 (searches performed on the MEDLINE data base). 3000 Vl"

This two-volume book provides the first comprehensive survey of opioid research, a field which has accumulated a tremendous amount of literature since the identification of opioid receptors and their endogenous ligands. In more than 60 chapters experts present state-of-the-art reviews of this fascinating field, the topics ranging from molecular biology to clinical applications. Part I covers the multiplicity of opioid receptors, the chemistry of opiates and opioid peptides as well as the neurophysiology of opioids. Part II reviews a broad spectrum of physiological and behavioral functions and pharmacological actions of opioids, together with their neuroendocrinology, opioid tolerance and dependence, concluding with pathophysiological aspects and clinical use.