The emergence of a new scientific book series requires some explanation regarding how it hopes to compensate the reader for the discomforts it undoubtedly produces both in the realms of informational input-overload and in the financial strain on personal and institutional budgets. This series recognizes that investigators who have entered neurochemistry from the biochemical tradition have a rather specialized view of the brain. Too often, interdisciplinary offerings are initially attractive but turn out to recite basic biochemical considerations. We have come to believe that there are now sufficiently large numbers of neurochemists to support a specialized venture such as the present one. We have begun with consideration of traditional areas of neurochemistry which show considerable scientific activity. We hope they will serve the neurochemist both for general reading and for specialized information. The reader will also have the opportunity to reftect on the unbridled speculation that results from the disinhibiting effects on the author who has been invited to write a chapter. We plan occasionally also to offer reviews of areas not completely in the domain of neurochemistry which we nevertheless feel to be sufficiently timely to be called to the attention of all who use chemical principles and tools in an effort to better understand the brain. B. W. Agranoff M. H. Aprison vii CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 POSSIBLE ROLES OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM LEONHARD S. WOLFE 1. Introduction 1 1. 1. Background 1 Names and Structures 1. 2. 4 1. 3. Biosynthesis 4 1. 4.