Author Description

Many aspects of reproduction, including ovulation, birth, and lactation, depend on signals from the brain that control hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. This brain-endocrine interaction also ensures that the animal's behavior is appropriate for changing reproductive states. Thisvolume presents new knowledge on the neural control of reproductive processes from studies of how opioid peptides act within the brain to regulate sexual behavior and reproduction in humans and other mammals. The role of brain opioid in the control of gonadotrophin secretion and the onset ofpuberty, the regulation of seasonal breeding and sexual behavior, and the release of oxytocin and its involvement in parturition and lactation are discussed. The findings and the perspectives they bring will be of great value to clinicians, veterinarians, research scientists, and studentsinterested in this growing field.