The integration of endocrine and autonomic systems with behavior is required to keep physiological systems in balance or to maintain homeostasis. The impairment of specific homeostatic mechanisms results in a variety of disorders including obesity, hypertension, gastric ulceration and depression. Members of the Neuroendocrine, Autonomic and Other Homeostatic Systems group use molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral approaches to understand how the nervous system operates to maintain whole body function in the face of an ever changing environment. Some of the current questions in this research area include: how do different brain regions interact to influence food intake and energy expenditure; what areas of the brain subserve opiate control of food preference; what is the neuroendocrine circuitry that controls secretion of stress hormones; what behavioral conditions are responsible for stress-induced ulceration; how do endocrine and sympathetic systems interact to control blood pressure; how do hormones control invertebrate neurodevelopment. The methodology used in these studies includes molecular biology, electrophysiology, animal behavior, radiotelemetry for cardiovascular monitoring, radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. There is extensive collaboration and interaction between laboratories, including journal clubs and a graduate course in neuroendocrine and autonomic control.