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Noradrenergic innervation of blood vessels (Vol. 1: Putative neurotransmitters. Vol. 2: Regional innervation)
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Noradrenergic Innervation of Blood Vessels (Vol. 1: Putative Neurotransmitters. Vol. 2: Regional Innervation) edited by Geoffrey Burnstock and Susan Griffith, CRC Press, 1988. £79.00 (i + 149 pages) (Vol. 1) £79.00 (233 pages) (Vol. 2) ISBN 0 8493 6681 X
The senior editor of these two volumes has a high reputation in the area of non-adrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) innervation of peripheral organs. His many years in the field have no doubt helped him to collect together an impressive international group of contributors to these volumes; some authors contribute to more than one chapter, and the majority are acknowledged experts in their fields. The chapters in the first volume concentrate on transmitter candidates: acetylcholine, 5-HT, dopamine, purines and the peptides, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide and neuropeptide Y; the chapters in the second volume each review a different section of the vascular system: systemic, cerebral, coronary, respiratory, skeletal muscle, skin, urogenital, gastrointestinal, salivary, the nerves and the special sensory organs. Most chapters concentrate on a particular type of innervation, such as peptidergic, or NANC. There is no doubt that this is an authoritative work which will be a point of reference for all interested in the nervous control of vascular tone. The two volumes consist of 19 short chapters within 368 pages, excluding the individual indexes. Thus the chapters are succinct summaries of existing knowledge rather than exhaustive reviews, and are eminently readable on that account; most are suitable for dipping into during the odd free hour, providing a mine of information and a good perspective of their particular area. There is some overlap between chapters; there is, for example, a whole chapter in Vol. 2 by Smaje and Edwards on the nonTINS, Vol. 12, No. 8, 1989
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books
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adrenergic innervation of salivary glossy page in Vol. 1 costs £0.55 gland blood vessels, a subject also and in Vol. 2 £0.35. Such volumes covered, albeit more briefly, in would find their way on to many another chapter in Vol. 1 by more shelves if much cheaper Edvinsson and Uddman. Calci- versions were available. A second tonin gene-related peptide is dis- negative aspect is the time taken cussed by Polak and Bloom, as for them to appear in print from well as by Owman who is con- first writing; in several chapters cerned with its co-existence in there is a note that they were nerves with substance P. Further written in 1985. For a book pubmention appears in one chapter lished in 1988 this cannot be by Gibbins, Morris, Furness and regarded as satisfactory and preCosta and in another by Bevan sumably represents the tardiness and Owman as well as in several with which some contributors reother places. Given the nature of sponded. In fairness one must say the subject, such overlaps are that some authors have added an probably inevitable - they are addendum to update the reader. certainly tolerable and on oc- On a positive note each volume casions it was even reassuring to has a separate index which, given inspect a second and equally the relative brevity of the text, authoritative opinion on a sub- seems pretty thorough. Abbreviations such as DBH, NPY or CGRP ject. The books are hard-backed and are cross-indexed to the full term will no doubt prove durable for which is useful. Overall the veruse in the library - and it is there dict is that these volumes are they are most likely to be found essential reading for those in the since their price (£79 each) will field, a valuable source of refercertainly discourage anyone not ence for all those with an interest crucially involved in the field from in vascular innervation, and worth buying them. The publishers, a glance from others, if they can CRC Press, generally produce gain access to a copy; at these high quality volumes in my ex- prices there will probably not be perience, but at a price. Each many around. uu
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics 15) (revised edn)
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i
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T. B. Bolton
Departmentof Pharmacologyand ClinicalPharmacology, St George'sHospital MedicalSchool, CranmerTerrace, LondonSW17ORE, UK.
J
This account is a useful introduction to those interested in the search for the gene locus for any of the inherited diseases. In fact the impetus for the present by Alan E. H. Emery, Oxford Univer- feverish activity into the molecular sity Press, 1988. £17.50 (317 pages) basis of Huntington's disease and ISBN 0 19 261798 2 Friedreich's ataxia was largely a In a historical discussion, Professor consequence of such advances in Emery shows an Egyptian relief Duchenne dystrophy. painting which may depict an inThe recent explosion of redividual with muscular dystrophy. search in Duchenne muscular The likelihood of this, and similar dystrophy, especially in the labassertions for other works of art, oratories of Davies and of Kunkel, being true, can only be appreci- precludes any discussion on this ated by close inspection! How- subject being up to date for very ever, this engaging historical sec- long. Since the publication of tion precedes a comprehensive this book, the sequencing of and extremely enjoyable account the Duchenne gene has been of the scientific and medical reported. The gene product, aspects of the disease. dystrophin, is lacking in the muscle Inevitably, the most topical and of individuals with Duchenne dysexciting chapter in this book deals trophy, and recent publications with the molecular pathology of have described details of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It structure as well as its relationship discusses the isolation of the gene to other muscle proteins. These and some of the approaches used findings, together with the precise in modern molecular genetics. localization of this molecule to the
Margaret E. Smith
Departmentof Physiology,Medical School,Universityof Birmingham, BirminghamB152T), UK.
307
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Noradrenergic Innervation of Blood Vessels (Vol. 1: Putative Neurotransmitters. Vol. 2: Regional Innervation) edited by Geoffrey Burnstock and Susan Griffith, CRC Press, 1988. £79.00 (i + 149 pages) (Vol. 1) £79.00 (233 pages) (Vol. 2) ISBN 0 8493 6681 X
The senior editor of these two volumes has a high reputation in the area of non-adrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) innervation of peripheral organs. His many years in the field have no doubt helped him to collect together an impressive international group of contributors to these volumes; some authors contribute to more than one chapter, and the majority are acknowledged experts in their fields. The chapters in the first volume concentrate on transmitter candidates: acetylcholine, 5-HT, dopamine, purines and the peptides, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide and neuropeptide Y; the chapters in the second volume each review a different section of the vascular system: systemic, cerebral, coronary, respiratory, skeletal muscle, skin, urogenital, gastrointestinal, salivary, the nerves and the special sensory organs. Most chapters concentrate on a particular type of innervation, such as peptidergic, or NANC. There is no doubt that this is an authoritative work which will be a point of reference for all interested in the nervous control of vascular tone. The two volumes consist of 19 short chapters within 368 pages, excluding the individual indexes. Thus the chapters are succinct summaries of existing knowledge rather than exhaustive reviews, and are eminently readable on that account; most are suitable for dipping into during the odd free hour, providing a mine of information and a good perspective of their particular area. There is some overlap between chapters; there is, for example, a whole chapter in Vol. 2 by Smaje and Edwards on the nonTINS, Vol. 12, No. 8, 1989
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
books
.
adrenergic innervation of salivary glossy page in Vol. 1 costs £0.55 gland blood vessels, a subject also and in Vol. 2 £0.35. Such volumes covered, albeit more briefly, in would find their way on to many another chapter in Vol. 1 by more shelves if much cheaper Edvinsson and Uddman. Calci- versions were available. A second tonin gene-related peptide is dis- negative aspect is the time taken cussed by Polak and Bloom, as for them to appear in print from well as by Owman who is con- first writing; in several chapters cerned with its co-existence in there is a note that they were nerves with substance P. Further written in 1985. For a book pubmention appears in one chapter lished in 1988 this cannot be by Gibbins, Morris, Furness and regarded as satisfactory and preCosta and in another by Bevan sumably represents the tardiness and Owman as well as in several with which some contributors reother places. Given the nature of sponded. In fairness one must say the subject, such overlaps are that some authors have added an probably inevitable - they are addendum to update the reader. certainly tolerable and on oc- On a positive note each volume casions it was even reassuring to has a separate index which, given inspect a second and equally the relative brevity of the text, authoritative opinion on a sub- seems pretty thorough. Abbreviations such as DBH, NPY or CGRP ject. The books are hard-backed and are cross-indexed to the full term will no doubt prove durable for which is useful. Overall the veruse in the library - and it is there dict is that these volumes are they are most likely to be found essential reading for those in the since their price (£79 each) will field, a valuable source of refercertainly discourage anyone not ence for all those with an interest crucially involved in the field from in vascular innervation, and worth buying them. The publishers, a glance from others, if they can CRC Press, generally produce gain access to a copy; at these high quality volumes in my ex- prices there will probably not be perience, but at a price. Each many around. uu
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics 15) (revised edn)
__
iJ
....
i
,',
T. B. Bolton
Departmentof Pharmacologyand ClinicalPharmacology, St George'sHospital MedicalSchool, CranmerTerrace, LondonSW17ORE, UK.
J
This account is a useful introduction to those interested in the search for the gene locus for any of the inherited diseases. In fact the impetus for the present by Alan E. H. Emery, Oxford Univer- feverish activity into the molecular sity Press, 1988. £17.50 (317 pages) basis of Huntington's disease and ISBN 0 19 261798 2 Friedreich's ataxia was largely a In a historical discussion, Professor consequence of such advances in Emery shows an Egyptian relief Duchenne dystrophy. painting which may depict an inThe recent explosion of redividual with muscular dystrophy. search in Duchenne muscular The likelihood of this, and similar dystrophy, especially in the labassertions for other works of art, oratories of Davies and of Kunkel, being true, can only be appreci- precludes any discussion on this ated by close inspection! How- subject being up to date for very ever, this engaging historical sec- long. Since the publication of tion precedes a comprehensive this book, the sequencing of and extremely enjoyable account the Duchenne gene has been of the scientific and medical reported. The gene product, aspects of the disease. dystrophin, is lacking in the muscle Inevitably, the most topical and of individuals with Duchenne dysexciting chapter in this book deals trophy, and recent publications with the molecular pathology of have described details of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It structure as well as its relationship discusses the isolation of the gene to other muscle proteins. These and some of the approaches used findings, together with the precise in modern molecular genetics. localization of this molecule to the
Margaret E. Smith
Departmentof Physiology,Medical School,Universityof Birmingham, BirminghamB152T), UK.
307