Endorphins in Reproduction and Stress

§16§Endorphins and other endogenous opioids appear to be the§connecting link between reproductive functions and stress§adaption of the human organism. This book contains the con-§tributions of an international group of biologists, bioche-§mists, and endocrinologists on the opioidergic control me-§chanisms in reproduction and stress physiology. Main topics§covered are: endogeneous opioids and the pituitary-gonadal§system; ovarian endorphinsecretion; pregnancy-associated§changes of plasma endorphin; and opioid control of the hypo-§thalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Although all chapters give§an excellent review on various studies in basic opioid re-§search, there are numerous clinical implications mentioned§in this book. §01§Wolfgang Distler ist an der Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der Technischen Universität Dresden tätig.