4.5 Serotonin and the Serotonergic Receptors 249
4.6 Histamine and the Histamine Receptors 260
4.7 Inhibitory Amino Acid Neurotransmitters:
γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) 270
4.8 Inhibitory Amino Acid Neurotransmitters: Glycine 281
4.9 Excitatory Amino Acid Neurotransmitters: Glutamate 283
4.10 Large-Molecule Neurotransmitters: Peptides 288
4.11 Small-Molecule Neurotransmitters: Gases
(Nitric Oxide, Carbon Monoxide) 291
4.12 Neuromodulators: Taurine and β-Alanine 296
4.13 Purinergic Neuromodulation and the
Adenosine Receptors 297
Selected References 299
- Messenger Targets for Drug Action II: Hormones
and Their Receptors 310
5.1 Overview of Relevant Anatomy and Physiology
of Hormones 310
5.2 Steroid Hormones: Introduction 312
5.3 Steroid Hormones: Receptor Biochemistry 312
5.4 Steroid Hormones: Structure and Conformation of
Agonists and Antagonists 314
5.5 Steroid Hormones: Steroid Biosynthesis 315
5.6 Steroid Hormones: Cholesterol as a
Biosynthetic Precursor 316
5.7 Steroid Hormones: Sex Hormones—Introduction 320
5.8 Steroid Hormones: Sex Hormones—Estrogens 321
5.9 Steroid Hormones: Sex Hormones—Progestins
(Gestagens) 325
5.10 Steroid Hormones: Sex Hormones—Androgens 328
5.11 Steroid Hormones: Adrenocorticoids
(Adrenal Steroids)—Overview 332
5.12 Steroid Hormones: Adrenocorticoids—Glucocorticoids 332
5.13 Steroid Hormones: Adrenocorticoids—Mineralocorticoids 337
5.14 Peptide Hormones: Introduction 338
5.15 Peptide Hormones of the Brain 338
5.16 Peptide Hormones of the Anterior Pituitary 346
5.17 Peptide Hormones of the Posterior Pituitary 348
5.18 Peptide Hormones of the Opiate System 350
5.19 Peptide Hormones of the Thyroid and
Parathyroid Glands 359
5.20 Peptide Hormones of the Pancreas: Insulin and Glucagon 364
5.21 Peptide Hormones of the Kidney (Renin–Angiotensin
System) 371
5.22 Peptide Hormones of the Heart (Natriuretic Factors) 376
CONTENTS xi