Morphological Considerations

Vertebrate Endocrinology: Fundamentals and Biomedical Implications, Volume 1: Morphological Considerations provides information pertinent to vertebrate endocrine systems, which has significant contributions to basic biological and biomedical research. This book discusses the practical implications of the endocrinological studies.
Organized into 15 chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the endocrine process in lower vertebrates, which has provided basic information about the understanding of mammalian and human systems. This text then discusses the pituitary gland, which is considered to be functionally and structurally the most complex organ of the endocrine system. Other chapters consider the function of the pineal organ as a sensory organ capable of perceiving light stimuli in poikilothermic vertebrates. This book discusses as well the caudal neurosecretory system in lampreys, hagfish, holocephalans, and dipnoans. The final chapter provides the comparative morphology of the classical vertebrate endocrine organs.
Endocrinologists, biologists, graduate students, and researchers will find this book useful.

Contenu

Preface
1 Introduction to Vertebrate Endocrinology
Text
References
2 Pituitary Gland
I. Introduction-General Comments
II. Development (Embryology)
III. Structural Association of Adenohypophysis and Neurohypophysis
IV. Microscopic Anatomy/Cytology
V. Comparative Morphology
VI. Comparative Contributions and Biomedical Implications
References
3 Vertebrate Neurohormonal Systems
I. Introduction
II. Neurohormones of the Posterior Pituitary
III. Neurohormones and the Anterior Pituitary
IV. Concluding Remarks
References
4 The Pineal Organ
I. Introduction
II. Development and Gross Anatomy
III. Histology, Histochemistry, and Ultrastructure
IV. Conclusions and Biomedical Implications
References
5 The Caudal Neurosecretory System in Fishes
I. Introduction
II. Anatomy and Histology
III. Development and Regeneration of the Caudal Neurosecretory System
IV. Electron Microscopy
V. Immunocytochemistry
VI. Nervous Control of the Caudal Neurosecretory System
VII. Summary
VIII. Comparative Contributions and Biomedical Implications
References
6 The Thyroid Gland
I. Historical Events
II. Development of the Mammalian Thyroid
III. Microanatomy
IV. Epithelial Organelles
V. Morphological Variation
VI. Comparative Morphology
VII. Overview and Biomedical Implications
References
7 The Parathyroid Glands
I. Introduction
II. Class Mammalia
III. Class Aves
IV. Class Reptilia
V. Class Amphibia
VI. Biomedical Implications and Conclusions
References
8 The Ultimobranchial Body
I. Introduction
II. Ontogeny and Phylogeny
III. Immunohistochemical and Histochemical Characteristics
IV. Innervation
V. Cellular Mechanisms of Secretion
VI. Patterns of Secretion
VII. Conclusions and Biomedical Implications
References
9 Gastrointestinal Tract
I. Introduction
II. Gut Endocrine Cell Types
III. Comparative Studies
IV. Summary and Conclusions
References
10 Pancreatic Islets
I. The Evolving Islet Organ: A New Gland Uses Ancient Hormones
II. Early Phylogenetic Relationships between Islet Organ, Exocrine Pancreas, and Liver
III. The Association of Islet Organ and Exocrine Pancreas: Raison d'Etre?
IV. Comparative Islet Anatomy
V. Concluding Remarks
References
11 The Adrenal and Interrenal Glands
I. Terminology
II. The Adrenal Gland
III. General Observations on Morphology
IV. Biomedical Implications
References
12 The Ovary
I. Introduction
II. Comparative Survey of Ovarian Morphology
III. Summary and Comment
References
13 Testis
I. Introduction
II. General Structure
III. Spermatogenesis
IV. Sertoli Cells
V. Interstitial Cells (Leydig Cells)
VI. Concluding Remarks
References
14 Stannius Corpuscles
I. Introduction
II. Distribution and Embryology of the CS
III. Gross Anatomy, Vascularization, and Innervation
IV. Structure and Cytophysiology of the Gland Cells
V. Relationship between CS and Other Endocrine Tissues
VI. Conclusions and Biomedical Implications
References
15 Evolutionary Morphology of Endocrine Glands
I. The Scope of This Volume
II. Evolution of Endocrine Organs
III. Endocrine Organs of Limited Phyletic Occurrence
IV. Evolution of the Adrenal Cortex
V. Evolution of the Hypothalamo-Hypophysial System
VI. Conclusions
References
Index