Neuroscience, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Biochemistry - Amino Acids, Pharmacology, Behavioral Psychology, Neurology, Biomedicine, Physiology - Nervous System, Neurophysiology

Amino Acid Availability and Brain Function in Health and Disease

Name: Amino Acid Availability and Brain Function in Health and Disease
Author: Gerald Huether
ISBN: 9783642731778

by Gerald Huether

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Overview

This survey of the present state-of-the-art and of the most recent developments in the field of amino acid availability and brain physiology provides more than 40 contributions by leading scientists. Seven interrelated chapters cover following topics: - peripheral control of brain amino acid supply; - uptake, compartimentation, and utilization of brain amino acids; - influence of an altered precursor amino acid supply: - on transmitter metabolism, - on functional neurotransmission and - on physiology and behaviour; - impact of an altered amino acid supply in neurologic and psychiatric diseases, and - the role of amino acid availability during embryogenesis and brain development.

Synopsis

The picture on the following page is being reproduced here, at the request of the partici pants in the Advanced Research Workshop "Amino Acid Availability and Brain Function in Health and Disease". I displayed this limewood carving, entitled "Neurochemistry", during my closing remarks to this extraordinarily stimulating and productive workshop so ably organized by my collaborator Dr. Gerald Huether. We scientists need two sturdy legs to carry us through all the twists and turns of our academic careers. We should also have, as it were, a reserve leg handy, to help us stay upright when this career ends. My "third leg" is wood carving. The idea for "Neurochemis try" came to me in the plane carrying me to the congress of the International Neuro chemical Society in Jerusalem. We need the hands for our meticulous experimental work, and at least one ear to listen to the messages our neurons send us. A few years ago it would have been premature to hold a workshop on this subject. Now, however, the time was just right to allow an overview of the status of current re search, and to point out the promising new openings it has created. There is no doubt that the book to be published as a result of this workshop will be, for the next years at least, the standard text on the subject. Hearty thanks to all speakers for their brilliant con tributions and to all participants for the lively, uninhibited and stimulating discussion.