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Methods for neuronal recording in conscious animals. Volume 4, IBRO handbooks series. Methods in the neurosciences
484
Book reviews
Recent advances in drug delivery systenx+-edited by J. M. ANDERSON and S. W. KIM. 387~~. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. $65. There have been considerable advances in the binding of drugs to selected polymer matrices that will allow slow and controlled release of the drug. This volume discusses the different types of polymers that have been used and the probable new developments, For example, it is possible to have a glycosylated insulin bound to Con A. The glycosylated insulin is displaced by glucose and the rate of glucose entry and insulin release are controlled by the relative permeabilities of the substances to the encapsulating membrane. Insulin release would be increased in the presence of high glucose concentrations. Vindesine sulphate can be encapsulated into magnetic microspheres. If these are injected into a rat that has previously been injected with an ascitic form of Yoshida rat sarcoma to form a local&d detectable tumour, the magnetic microspheres can be drawn to the site of the tumour by placing a magnet over the tumour for 30 min. This results in a significant decrease in the size of the tumour, compared to control animals that did not have the magnet placed over the tumour, or animals not treated with vindesine. There is considerable scope for development of controlled release systems, especially those that do not go via the GI system. In the not-too-distant future it should be possible to have transdetmal administration of insulin derivatives or L-DOPA derivatives that will make life easier for the diabetic or the Parkinson patient. Methods for nenronnl reeordhsg in eonsdens aninuda Vohnne 4,IRROH~dhoeksSeries.Metbodsi11fbeaemosekaeeg edited by Roow LEMON.162~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f9.50 paperback. If you are interested in learning how to record the electrical activity in conscious animals, and in particular recording and identifying single neurones, then this book will be very useful to you. It will also be useful to those already working in the field who will pick up some good practical tips to improve their technique. There is a useful chapter on the theoretical background to recording, i.e. what the electrodes actually detect. Descriptions are given showing how to anaesthetize and maintain the animal under anaesthesia; how to implant and secure electrodes in the brain, microelectrodes and microdrives, the study of interspike intervals, peri-event histograms and reaction times. Dr A. Prochazka has written a chapter on chronic techniques for studying the neurophysiology of movement in cats. perfusion of exdtalde cells. Volume 5, IBRO Handbook Serke: Metkoh in tke aearosduited by P. G. Kosrvux and 0. A. KRISHTAL. 133~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f 10 paperback.
IntraeeUuhr
Using intracellular perfusion, it is possible to replace the internal ionic composition of the cells with experimentally determined ionic concentrations and metabolites. In addition, there is little or no protoplasm left inside the cell so that the experimental events can be interpreted in terms of changes in membrane permeability and the ionic gradients across the membrane. It describes the intracellular perfusion and dialysis of large nerve and muscle cells, oocytes and cardiomyocytes; how to perfuse isolated neurons 6xed in a plastic film; how to isolate neurons (molluscan neurons; dorsal ganglion neurons of frog and rat); the electrical measurements of potentials across the perfused cell membranes. This volume should help transform a diliicult technique into a possible and practical method that could be used in many laboratories.
Measurementof neurotmwdtter
relea~ i tiw Vdmae 6, IBRO Handbook Seria Me&o& in the neorordeaeesedited by C. A. MARSDEN.233~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f 12 paperback. Research interest has redeveloped into the measurement of neurotransmitter release in the living animal. The techniques described are push-pull cannulae, gas chromatographic and mass fragmentographic measmement of amino a&Is released into brain perfusates collected by push-pull aumulae; cortical cup technique; intracranial dialysis; spinal superfusion in the rat and the cat. The more recent techniques of in o&o voltammetry are described including the use of carbon fibm electrodes for measuring catecholamines and ascorbic acid, measurement of 5-hydroxyalkylamines for up to one month in waking and sleeping rats; high speed voltammetry to measure noradrenline released by iontophoresis and the resulting changes in electrical activity of neurones in the cortex. The book gives full details of how to make the carbon electrodes, what equipment to use for the measurements, and there is a list of electrochemical equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Autonomic funcliom in kmnu~ @I*. Edition-edited by G. V. Tnnws and P. 1985. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
S@qpr VAUPAL.
Study 3&lpp.
The subjects described in this book are blood, circulation of blood, heart function, respiration, energy balance and work physiology, thermal balance, nutrition, function of GI tract, renal function and micturition, water, electrolyte and acid-base balance, hormonal regulatory systems, sexual functions. The text is very well written, there are excellent ihustrations in black and red and the subject is presented clearly, concisely and interestingly. A first class volume for students. Fisk re.prohction: strhgies and &h-edited by G. W. Porn and R. J. W-N. 41Opp. 1984. Academic Press, London. f29.50, $49. The reproductive behaviour of fish hasprovided excellent models for understanding the way that hormonal changes bring about specific behavioural changes and the onset of reproduction. This volume discusses various aspects of fish reproduction in terms of its genetics, endocrinology, sex reversal, geographical variation, influence of environment and seasons and the significance of some of the differences seen in the reproductive pattern of different species. Reproductive patterns are considered in terms of their evolutionary significance, with special attention given to the extent to which they can be exploited by aquaculture and fishing.
by J. DU~AYRAT.131~~. 1984. John Wiley, Chichester. f7.95 paperback. When you see the abbreviation AA, what do you think of? Amino acid? Arachidonic acid? This book also lists acupuncture analgesia, adenine arabinoside, agranulocytic angina, alopecia areata, aplastic anemia, atomic absorption and axonal arborization. How about FA? Fanconi’s anemia, fatty acid, fibroadenoma, fluorescent antibody, fluorescent assay, folic acid, Forbes Allbright (syndrome). Whilst SFA stands for saturated fatty acid, or stimulated fibrinolytic activity. Most of us have read a scientific article that has many acronyms and abbreviations and has had difficulty 6ndings what the letters mean. This volume provides a useful list of
Book reviews
Recent advances in drug delivery systenx+-edited by J. M. ANDERSON and S. W. KIM. 387~~. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. $65. There have been considerable advances in the binding of drugs to selected polymer matrices that will allow slow and controlled release of the drug. This volume discusses the different types of polymers that have been used and the probable new developments, For example, it is possible to have a glycosylated insulin bound to Con A. The glycosylated insulin is displaced by glucose and the rate of glucose entry and insulin release are controlled by the relative permeabilities of the substances to the encapsulating membrane. Insulin release would be increased in the presence of high glucose concentrations. Vindesine sulphate can be encapsulated into magnetic microspheres. If these are injected into a rat that has previously been injected with an ascitic form of Yoshida rat sarcoma to form a local&d detectable tumour, the magnetic microspheres can be drawn to the site of the tumour by placing a magnet over the tumour for 30 min. This results in a significant decrease in the size of the tumour, compared to control animals that did not have the magnet placed over the tumour, or animals not treated with vindesine. There is considerable scope for development of controlled release systems, especially those that do not go via the GI system. In the not-too-distant future it should be possible to have transdetmal administration of insulin derivatives or L-DOPA derivatives that will make life easier for the diabetic or the Parkinson patient. Methods for nenronnl reeordhsg in eonsdens aninuda Vohnne 4,IRROH~dhoeksSeries.Metbodsi11fbeaemosekaeeg edited by Roow LEMON.162~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f9.50 paperback. If you are interested in learning how to record the electrical activity in conscious animals, and in particular recording and identifying single neurones, then this book will be very useful to you. It will also be useful to those already working in the field who will pick up some good practical tips to improve their technique. There is a useful chapter on the theoretical background to recording, i.e. what the electrodes actually detect. Descriptions are given showing how to anaesthetize and maintain the animal under anaesthesia; how to implant and secure electrodes in the brain, microelectrodes and microdrives, the study of interspike intervals, peri-event histograms and reaction times. Dr A. Prochazka has written a chapter on chronic techniques for studying the neurophysiology of movement in cats. perfusion of exdtalde cells. Volume 5, IBRO Handbook Serke: Metkoh in tke aearosduited by P. G. Kosrvux and 0. A. KRISHTAL. 133~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f 10 paperback.
IntraeeUuhr
Using intracellular perfusion, it is possible to replace the internal ionic composition of the cells with experimentally determined ionic concentrations and metabolites. In addition, there is little or no protoplasm left inside the cell so that the experimental events can be interpreted in terms of changes in membrane permeability and the ionic gradients across the membrane. It describes the intracellular perfusion and dialysis of large nerve and muscle cells, oocytes and cardiomyocytes; how to perfuse isolated neurons 6xed in a plastic film; how to isolate neurons (molluscan neurons; dorsal ganglion neurons of frog and rat); the electrical measurements of potentials across the perfused cell membranes. This volume should help transform a diliicult technique into a possible and practical method that could be used in many laboratories.
Measurementof neurotmwdtter
relea~ i tiw Vdmae 6, IBRO Handbook Seria Me&o& in the neorordeaeesedited by C. A. MARSDEN.233~~. 1984. Wiley, Chichester. f 12 paperback. Research interest has redeveloped into the measurement of neurotransmitter release in the living animal. The techniques described are push-pull cannulae, gas chromatographic and mass fragmentographic measmement of amino a&Is released into brain perfusates collected by push-pull aumulae; cortical cup technique; intracranial dialysis; spinal superfusion in the rat and the cat. The more recent techniques of in o&o voltammetry are described including the use of carbon fibm electrodes for measuring catecholamines and ascorbic acid, measurement of 5-hydroxyalkylamines for up to one month in waking and sleeping rats; high speed voltammetry to measure noradrenline released by iontophoresis and the resulting changes in electrical activity of neurones in the cortex. The book gives full details of how to make the carbon electrodes, what equipment to use for the measurements, and there is a list of electrochemical equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Autonomic funcliom in kmnu~ @I*. Edition-edited by G. V. Tnnws and P. 1985. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
S@qpr VAUPAL.
Study 3&lpp.
The subjects described in this book are blood, circulation of blood, heart function, respiration, energy balance and work physiology, thermal balance, nutrition, function of GI tract, renal function and micturition, water, electrolyte and acid-base balance, hormonal regulatory systems, sexual functions. The text is very well written, there are excellent ihustrations in black and red and the subject is presented clearly, concisely and interestingly. A first class volume for students. Fisk re.prohction: strhgies and &h-edited by G. W. Porn and R. J. W-N. 41Opp. 1984. Academic Press, London. f29.50, $49. The reproductive behaviour of fish hasprovided excellent models for understanding the way that hormonal changes bring about specific behavioural changes and the onset of reproduction. This volume discusses various aspects of fish reproduction in terms of its genetics, endocrinology, sex reversal, geographical variation, influence of environment and seasons and the significance of some of the differences seen in the reproductive pattern of different species. Reproductive patterns are considered in terms of their evolutionary significance, with special attention given to the extent to which they can be exploited by aquaculture and fishing.
by J. DU~AYRAT.131~~. 1984. John Wiley, Chichester. f7.95 paperback. When you see the abbreviation AA, what do you think of? Amino acid? Arachidonic acid? This book also lists acupuncture analgesia, adenine arabinoside, agranulocytic angina, alopecia areata, aplastic anemia, atomic absorption and axonal arborization. How about FA? Fanconi’s anemia, fatty acid, fibroadenoma, fluorescent antibody, fluorescent assay, folic acid, Forbes Allbright (syndrome). Whilst SFA stands for saturated fatty acid, or stimulated fibrinolytic activity. Most of us have read a scientific article that has many acronyms and abbreviations and has had difficulty 6ndings what the letters mean. This volume provides a useful list of