The integument plays an important role in the survival of meta zoans by separating and protecting them from a hostile environ ment. Its function ranges from protection against injury and in fection, participation in the regulation of body temperature and water balance, to respiratory activity, monitoring of the environ ment and production of signals related to behaviour. All these result from specific structural, biochemical and physiological properties of intra-and extracellular components of the integu ment. Thus its characterization can be best accomplished by a multidisciplinary approach with authors specialized in different fields of science. This multi-author book, in two volumes, provides an up-to date survey of the literature. The first volume deals with the integument of invertebrates, the second with that of vertebrates, both organized primarily on a phylum basis. As the level of knowledge on the integument of phyla differs considerably, the information provided is correspondingly either limited or con densed. For some of the smaller groups of invertebrates little information is available, as often only a few electron micrographs are to be found in the literature ; on the other hand, from the large body of knowledge existing for vertebrates, particularly for mammals, no complete overview can be provided, but publica tions giving access to further information have been reviewed critically.

I Introduction

1 Introduction
II The Skin of Fishes Including Cyclostomes
2 Epidermis
3 Dermis
4 Pigment Cells
III The Skin of Amphibia
5 Epidermis
6 Dermis
7 Dermal Glands
8 Pigment Cells
IV The Skin of Reptiles
9 Epidermis and Dermis
10 Glands
V The Skin of Birds
11 Epidermis, Dermis and Appendages
12 Colouration
13 Uropygial Gland
VI The Skin of Mammals
14 Structure and Function of the Mammalian Epidermis
15 Dermis
16 Formation, Chemical Composition and Function of Melanin Pigments
17 Hair, Wool, Quill, Nail, Claw, Hoof, and Horn
18 Sebaceous Glands
19 Sweat Glands
20 Scent Glands
VII Epidermal-Dermal Interaction
21 Epidermal-Dermal Interaction
VIII Mammalian Epidermal Cells in Culture
22 Mammalian Epidermal Cells in Culture
IX Epidermal Cell Migration and Wound Repair
23 Epidermal Cell Migration and Wound Repair
X Epidermal Osmoregulation and Salt Glands
24 The Role of Amphibian Epidermis in Osmoregulation and Its Adaptive Response to Changing Environment
25 Chloride Cells and Salt Glands
XI Thermoregulation
26 Thermoregulation
XII Skin-Mediated Sensation
27 Mechanoreceptors and Free Nerve Endings
28 Thermoreceptors
29 Chemoreceptors
30 The Merkel Cell
XIII Skin Proteins
31 Epidermal ?-Keratin: Structure and Chemical Composition
32 Epidermal ?-Keratins: Structural Diversity and Changes During Tissue Differentiation
33 Feather Keratin: Composition, Structure and Biogenesis
34 Hair Keratin: Composition, Structure and Biogenesis
35 Nail, Claw, Hoof and Horn Keratin
36 Keratohyalin
37 Involucrin: A Constituent of Cross-Linked Envelopes and Marker of Squamous Maturation
38 Desmosomal Proteins
39 Protein Components of the Epidermal Basement Membrane
40 Interstitial Collagens
41 Elastic Fibers
XIV Skin Lipids
42 Lipids of Keratinizing Tissues
43 Sebaceous Gland Lipids
44 Preen Gland and Scent Gland Lipids
Index to Genera.