In the last few years, considerable attention has been paid to the presence of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGF-BPs) in the brain and peripheral neuronal tissue. IGFs are synthesized within the CNS, are bound to specific IGF-BPs and act on specific receptors. They represent a new class of growth factors and messengers in the brain and the periphery. Written by a group of outstanding experts in the field, the book provides an invaluable forum where important aspects of the production, regulation, biological actions, pathophysiological involvement, therapeutic applications for IGFs in many neurologic and neuromuscular disorders are addressed and critically evaluated.
