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Neurosciences research program bulletin. Vol. 16
572
BOOK REVIEWS
and the list represents an improved version of the standard terminology. In particular, the list is broader than that suggested by IFSECN's Committee, and well adapted to the needs of statistical treatment. The booklet with only 58 pages probably is more useful than many heavy books for electroencephalographers working both in routine and in research. M. MATOUSEK
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of G6teborg, G6teborg (Sweden)
Iconography of sensory nerve endings. -- A. ~,brah~m (Ed.) (Akad~miai Kiad6, Budapest, 1981, 396 p., $68.00) The author is in the fortunate position of being able to present his life's work as a beautiful and voluminous 'picture-book'. In more than 200 drawings of original preparations he shows the multifariousness of peripheral sensory terminations, based on silver impregnation technique. Pictures o f terminations of nerve terminals of the limbs of water-fleas and the antennae of gammarids and isopods are shown next to drawings of the primitive forerunners of Meissner corpuscles of teleosteans; besides, nerve terminals of many and important tissue systems and organs of amphibians, reptiles and mammalians are depicted and described. So, everybody dealing carefully with this book gains extensive insights into the morphology of sensory endings as far as it can be revealed by light microscopy. Finally, he may get an idea of the development from simple to complex structures during phylogenesis. Particular consideration is devoted to the nerve terminals in the wall of the heart and the large vessels, including their alterations during chronic hypertension and arteriosclerosis. One learns which regions of the endocardium are particularly well supplied with nerves and what the nerve terminal~ within the arteries and venae look like. Apart from pressure receptors, the glomus caroticum of many species is dealt with carefully. One is profoundly informed about the exceptionally strong sensory innervation of the muscles involved in phonation. Very detailed information is also given on the sexual organs of different species, among them man. Since the entire material of this atlas is based on silver impregnation, only a restricted aspect of the morphology of the receptors is made visible, in spite of the multifariousness of shape: this aspect concerns
clusters of nerve fibres, glomerular structures, complex ramifications and some intraepithelial terminations. It is self-evident that the exact relationships between axons and cell and fibre systems of the organs can only be studied by additional techniques, particularly electron microscopy. Indeed there are a few electron micrographs in this book, but the information they impart is fairly small. Making visible nerve structures by light microscopy is the particular domain of the author in which field he is doubtless a master who can be congratulated on this beautifully documented work. The reproductions of the drawings are most impressive and thanks are due to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences for having published this fine atlas. W. ZENKER
Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland) Book received, but not fully reviewed: Neurosciences research program bulletin. Vol. 16 -F.W.L. Kerr and K.L. Casey; L.L. Iversen, R.A. Nicoll and W.W. Vale; M.V.L. Bennett and D.A. Goodehough; J.C. Liebeakind and R.K. Dismukes (Eds.) (MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1980, 661 p., U.S. $ 30.00) This NRP bulletin begins with a section on pain, edited by Kerr and Casey, based on a work session held in 1975. Topics under discussion include the problem of defining and measuring pain, an overview of the neural mechanisms, and ending with a discussion on opiates and pain modulation. Of special interest is S. Ander~on's account o f his experiments on peripheral modulation in man, providing evidence for the usefulness of acupuncture. The second section, based on a session held in 1976, deals with neuropeptides, their characterization, properties, mapping, biosynthesis and degradation, and CNS receptors, ending with the question 'The neuropeptides = a new generation of neurotransmitters?' The last section also deals with peptides but in relation to behavior, edited by the last two editors named above. Topics of special interest are the unique cellular properties of neuropeptides and a chapter on brain endorphins. The third section is on gap junctions, electrotonic coupling and intercellular communication, edited by Bennett and Goodenough. The impressive photographs by the freeze-fracture technique will be of great value to all neuroscientists interested in the molecular aspects of the central nervous system.
BOOK REVIEWS
and the list represents an improved version of the standard terminology. In particular, the list is broader than that suggested by IFSECN's Committee, and well adapted to the needs of statistical treatment. The booklet with only 58 pages probably is more useful than many heavy books for electroencephalographers working both in routine and in research. M. MATOUSEK
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of G6teborg, G6teborg (Sweden)
Iconography of sensory nerve endings. -- A. ~,brah~m (Ed.) (Akad~miai Kiad6, Budapest, 1981, 396 p., $68.00) The author is in the fortunate position of being able to present his life's work as a beautiful and voluminous 'picture-book'. In more than 200 drawings of original preparations he shows the multifariousness of peripheral sensory terminations, based on silver impregnation technique. Pictures o f terminations of nerve terminals of the limbs of water-fleas and the antennae of gammarids and isopods are shown next to drawings of the primitive forerunners of Meissner corpuscles of teleosteans; besides, nerve terminals of many and important tissue systems and organs of amphibians, reptiles and mammalians are depicted and described. So, everybody dealing carefully with this book gains extensive insights into the morphology of sensory endings as far as it can be revealed by light microscopy. Finally, he may get an idea of the development from simple to complex structures during phylogenesis. Particular consideration is devoted to the nerve terminals in the wall of the heart and the large vessels, including their alterations during chronic hypertension and arteriosclerosis. One learns which regions of the endocardium are particularly well supplied with nerves and what the nerve terminal~ within the arteries and venae look like. Apart from pressure receptors, the glomus caroticum of many species is dealt with carefully. One is profoundly informed about the exceptionally strong sensory innervation of the muscles involved in phonation. Very detailed information is also given on the sexual organs of different species, among them man. Since the entire material of this atlas is based on silver impregnation, only a restricted aspect of the morphology of the receptors is made visible, in spite of the multifariousness of shape: this aspect concerns
clusters of nerve fibres, glomerular structures, complex ramifications and some intraepithelial terminations. It is self-evident that the exact relationships between axons and cell and fibre systems of the organs can only be studied by additional techniques, particularly electron microscopy. Indeed there are a few electron micrographs in this book, but the information they impart is fairly small. Making visible nerve structures by light microscopy is the particular domain of the author in which field he is doubtless a master who can be congratulated on this beautifully documented work. The reproductions of the drawings are most impressive and thanks are due to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences for having published this fine atlas. W. ZENKER
Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland) Book received, but not fully reviewed: Neurosciences research program bulletin. Vol. 16 -F.W.L. Kerr and K.L. Casey; L.L. Iversen, R.A. Nicoll and W.W. Vale; M.V.L. Bennett and D.A. Goodehough; J.C. Liebeakind and R.K. Dismukes (Eds.) (MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1980, 661 p., U.S. $ 30.00) This NRP bulletin begins with a section on pain, edited by Kerr and Casey, based on a work session held in 1975. Topics under discussion include the problem of defining and measuring pain, an overview of the neural mechanisms, and ending with a discussion on opiates and pain modulation. Of special interest is S. Ander~on's account o f his experiments on peripheral modulation in man, providing evidence for the usefulness of acupuncture. The second section, based on a session held in 1976, deals with neuropeptides, their characterization, properties, mapping, biosynthesis and degradation, and CNS receptors, ending with the question 'The neuropeptides = a new generation of neurotransmitters?' The last section also deals with peptides but in relation to behavior, edited by the last two editors named above. Topics of special interest are the unique cellular properties of neuropeptides and a chapter on brain endorphins. The third section is on gap junctions, electrotonic coupling and intercellular communication, edited by Bennett and Goodenough. The impressive photographs by the freeze-fracture technique will be of great value to all neuroscientists interested in the molecular aspects of the central nervous system.