The emergence of a new scientific book series requires some explanation
regarding how it hopes to compensate the reader for the discomforts it
undoubtedly produces both in the realms of informational input-overload
and in the financial strain on personal and institutional budgets. This
series recognizes that investigators who have entered neurochemistry
from the biochemical tradition have a rather specialized view of the
brain. Too often, interdisciplinary offerings are initially attractive
but turn out to recite basic biochemical considerations. We have come to
believe that there are now sufficiently large numbers of neurochemists
to support a specialized venture such as the present one. We have begun
with consideration of traditional areas of neurochemistry which show
considerable scientific activity. We hope they will serve the
neurochemist both for general reading and for specialized information.
The reader will also have the opportunity to reftect on the unbridled
speculation that results from the disinhibiting effects on the author
who has been invited to write a chapter. We plan occasionally also to
offer reviews of areas not completely in the domain of neurochemistry
which we nevertheless feel to be sufficiently timely to be called to the
attention of all who use chemical principles and tools in an effort to
better understand the brain. B. W. Agranoff M. H. Aprison vii CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 POSSIBLE ROLES OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
LEONHARD S. WOLFE 1. Introduction 1 1. 1. Background 1 Names and
Structures 1. 2. 4 1. 3. Biosynthesis 4 1. 4.
