Histochemistry and Cell Biology of Autonomic Neurons and Paraganglia : Springer : 9783642727511 : 3642727514 : 10 Dec 2011 : With the discovery of an ever increasing number of biogenetic polypeptides in the autonomic nervous system, it is evident that nervous transmission is controlled and modified not only by a series of classical transmitters but also by a variety of co-transmitters and modulators. Purifi­ cation, characterization and synthesis of neuropeptides and peptide families allows the application of specific anti­ bodies for radioimmunological, immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical localization. Transmitter interactions and phenotypic neuronal plasticity can be analyzed by pharmacological or surgical manipulations. Biochemical and autoradiographic determination of specific membrane receptors enables the recognition of peptide target struc­ tures. In addition, neurophysiological techniques in combi­ nation with histochemical methods result in functional interpretations. W