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The “father” of neuroendocrinology received the Nobel Prize for his studies of the hormonal control of the pituitary gland, especially the hormones produced by the hypothalamus, which provided the foundations for our understanding of the endocryne system. His work continued with the isolation of endorphines, the neurotransmitters that govern pain mechanisms, and other hormones with key roles in the functioning of the human organism, such as somatocrinin and somatostatin. And as if this were not enough, in recent years Guillemin has undertaken a new career as a “digital” artist, using his computer to produce stunning landscapes that have been well-received by critics and the public in the United States and in Europe. |
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Hormones of the brain. How the brain runs its own drugstore Conference for the public Milan, 17 November 1998 Some time ago, clinicians and laboratory people became convinced that the brain was involved in regulating the secretion of hormones in the body (hormones like the sex hormones, of the thyroid gland, of the pancreas like insulin, etc.). It turns out that this control by the brain is exercised by totally novel molecules which can be called brain hormones. Later research showed that the brain response to drugs (like opiates, marijuana, tranquilizers, etc.) is due to the presence in nerve cells of molecules of large structures called receptors. Then the question was asked why would the brain have receptors for substances coming from plants (like poppies or marijuana). It is now known that the brain makes internal molecules which act like all these drugs from the outside. The lecture gives some details about these endogenous drugs made by our brain. |
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