• I. Historical Perspectives.- 1 • Proopiomelanocortin and the Melanocortin Peptides.- 2 • Melanocortins and Pigmentation.- 3 • Melanocortins and Adrenocortical Function.- 4 • Effects of Melanocortins in the Nervous System.- 5 • Peripheral Effects of Melanocortins.- II. Characterization of the Melanocortin Receptors.- 6 • Melanocortin Receptor Expression and Function in the Nervous System.- 7 • Cloning of the Melanocortin Receptors.- III. Biochemical Mechanism of Receptor Action.- 8 • The Molecular Pharmacology of Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone: Structure Activity Relationships for Melanotropins at Melanocortin Receptors.- 9 • In Vitro Mutagenesis Studies of Melanocortin Receptor Coupling and Ligand Binding.- IV. Receptor Function.- 10 • The Melanocortin-1 Receptor.- 11 • The Human Melanocortin-1 Receptor.- 12 • The Melanocortin-2 Receptor in Normal Adrenocortical Function and Familial Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Resistance.- 13 • The Melanocortin-3 Receptor.- 14 • The Melanocortin-4 Receptor.- 15 • The Melanocortin-5 Receptor.- V. Receptor Regulation.- 16 • Regulation of the Melanocortin Receptors by Agouti.- 17 • Melanocortins and Melanoma.- 18 • Regulation of the Mouse and Human Melanocortin-1 Receptor.- VI. Future Vistas.- 19 • Future Vistas.

"New data on melanocortin receptors 1-5 and their regulation are the topic of several chapters. A complete, well referenced text of interest to all endocrinologists, neuroscientists, geneticists, physiologists and pharmacologists." - Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism