Recent progress in recombinant DNA technology and the availability of a number of nonpeptide subtype-specific receptor antagonists and of specific antibodies to components of prorenin-renin-angiotensin system (PRAS) have led to rapid advances in the under- standing of the multifaceted role of angiotensin II, classically known as a peptide hormone of cardiovascular homeostasis. Accumulating evidence sug- responsible for the regulation gests that, in addition to its role in salt and water metabolism, PRAS may control other physiological functions including neurosecretion, cellular...

Scientific advances over the past two decades have afforded unprecedented oppor- tunities to understand the structure and function of receptors, receptor-ligand interactions, and receptor signaling. The extent ofprogress in this area is underscored by the recent Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology to Alfred Gilman and Martin Rodbell, both of whose work in understanding receptorlG-protein interactions has redefined the way in which we think of how hormones and neurochemicals exert their activity on cellular function. This book is replete with examples of current research approaches to help...