This volume addresses neuronal pain mechanisms at the peripheral, spinal and supraspinal level which are thought to significantly contribute to pain and which may be the basis for the development of new treatment principles. Chapters on nociceptive mechanisms in the peripheral nociceptive system address the concept of hyperalgesic priming, the role of voltage-gated sodium channels in different inflammatory and neuropathic pain states, the hyperalgesic effects of NGF in different tissues and in inflammatory and neuropathic pain states, and the contribution of proteinase activated receptors...

This book highlights the behavioral and neurobiological issues relevant for drug development, reviews evidence for an innovative approach for drug discovery and presents perspectives on multiple special topics ranging from therapeutic drug use in children, emerging technologies and non-pharmacological approaches to cognitive enhancement.

This book illustrates, in a comprehensive manner, the most current areas of importance to Safety Pharmacology, a burgeoning unique pharmacological discipline with important ties to academia, industry and regulatory authorities. It provides readers with a definitive collection of topics containing essential information on the latest industry guidelines and overviews current and breakthrough topics in both functional and molecular pharmacology. An additional novelty of the book is that it constitutes academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology perspectives for Safety Pharmacology issues. Each...

This book puts hydrogen sulfide in context with other gaseous mediators such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, reviews the available mechanisms for its biosynthesis and describes its physiological and pathophysiological roles in a wide variety of disease states. Hydrogen sulfide has recently been discovered to be a naturally occurring gaseous mediator in the body. Over a relatively short period of time this evanescent gas has been revealed to play key roles in a range of physiological processes including control of blood vessel caliber and hence blood pressure and in the regulation of...

There is currently considerable interest in the development of medicines that would enhance endocannabinoid-induced "autoprotection," for example through inhibition of endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes or cellular uptake processes or that would oppose endocannabinoid-induced "autoimpairment." This volume describes the physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system and potential strategies for targeting this system in the clinic.

The HEP issue on Metabolic Control provides a state-of the art overview over both classical concepts and emerging areas in metabolism and associated disorders. In this context, metabolic control is highlighted at various levels of complexity ranging from transcriptional mechanisms in metabolic pathway control over metabolic communication routes in physiology and pathophysiology to current treatment modalities and options in metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Dedicated chapters by leading experts in their fields provide a concise overview over important areas in...

The intention of this book is to provide a comprehensive and contemporary review of the biology of sensory nerves. The book is unique, as it comprehensively covers the role of sensory nerves across many therapeutic areas.

This volume of Springer's Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology explores the wide range of factors relating to sodium channels, from their biophysical behavior, structure, and pathological vulnerabilities to the methodologies employed in studying them.

This book offers up-to-date information on the molecular and functional properties and pharmacology of mammalian Transient Receptor Potential channels, from close-up views of single protein/channels to broader principles of function and important pathologies.