Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is linked to psychiatric and neurological disorders, because inhibitors of the enzyme are used clinically for treatment of affective disorders and Parkinson s disease. One of the interesting new aspects of MAO is the occurrence in the human population of deletions of genes coding for one or the other enzyme subtype (A or B). This leads to the possibility of a genetic basis for psychiatric disorders based on MAO. Subjects with deletions of type A or B, and combined deletions, have been described. In the first group of 6 papers in this book, the occurrence and characterization of these phenotypes, as well as the structure of MAO genes, is explored. Advances in the biochemistry of MAO subtypes and their physiological function and localization in brain and periphery is included. Other sections of the book deal with the neuroprotective action of MAO inhibitors and their pharmacology, especially the pharmacology of new MAO-B inhibitors."

The Amine Oxidase Workshop was the brain child of Brian Callingham and Keith Tipton. The present book is the proceedings of the fourth in the series and in the past we have dedicated our meeting to individuals who have made significant fundamental contributions to the biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology of this interesting group of enzymes. The present meeting is not an exception because we have gathered here in Wtirzburg to honour an individual whose outstanding work on the autonomic pharmacology has span ned more than 30 years and whose contribution has made a vast impact in our understanding of the kinetic relationship between amine metabolism (that uptake and enzymatic inactivation) and adrenergic neurotransmission. We speak of course of Professor Ullrich Trendelenburg, or Ulli as he likes to be known. Like the amine oxidases, he has a unique place in Pharmacology. Professor Trendelenburg was born on the eve of the new year of 1922 in the city of Rostock in northern Germany, where his father was Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine of Rostock. His father accepted the offer to take over the corresponding chair in Freiburg im Breisgrau (in Southern Germany). As the youngest of four children, Ulli grew up mainly in the garden of the department, in the animal quarters and in the workshop. Of the various coworkers of his father, one he liked especially was Otto Krayer, the young pharmacologist."