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Progress in cholinergic biology: Model cholinergic synapses
437
T I P S - October 1983
11 Crews,F. T., Morita, Y., Hiram,F., Axelrod,J. and Siraganian,R P. (1980)B/ochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 93, 42-49 12 Crews,F. T., Morita, Y., McGivney,A., Hiram, F., Siraganian,R. P. and Axelrod,L (198l)Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 212, 561-571 13 McGivney,A., Morita,Y., Crews, F. T., Hiram, F., Axelrod,]. and Siraganian,R. P. (1981)Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 212, 572-580 14 Hiram,F. (1981)J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7730-7733 15 Urata,C. and Siraganinn,R. P. ( 1983) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 42, 1342 16 Sullivan, T. S. (1981) in Biochemistry of the
Acute Allergic Reaction (Becker, E. L, Simon,
A. S. and Austen, K. F., eels), Vol. 14, pp 229-238, AlanR. Liss, NewYork 17 Siraganinn,R P. (1981) in Ce//u/arFunctionsin lmmunily and Inflammation (~ i m ,
J. J.,
Rosenstretch, D. R. aad Potter, M., eds), pp. 323-354, ElsevierNorth-Holland,New York 18 Sieghart,W., Theoharides,T. C., Alper, S. L, Douglas,W. W. and Greengard,P. (1978)Nature (London) 275,329-331 19 ~ , T. C., Sieghall,W., C_aeengard,P. and Douglas,W. W. (1980)Science207, 80--82 20 Hempstead,B. L., Kulezycki,A. Jr and Parker,
C W (1981)Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 98, 815--822 Reuben P. Siragaman obtained his M D at the State University of New York Downstate Medir.alCenter, in 1962. He then undertook training m internal medicine and from 1965 to 1968 he was Fellow in Microbiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he obtained a Ph.D. Since 1973 he has been Head of the Section of Clinical Immunology of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology at the National Institute of Dental Research.
Ill
Books Cholinergic synapses Progress in Cholinergic Biology: Model Cholinergic Synapses edited by Israel Hanin and A l a n M. Goldberg, Raven Press, 1982. $85.56 (xiv 4- 365pages) I S B N 0 89004 758 8
The contents of this volume place it in the genre of 'how to' books; in this instance, how to select and utilize an appropriate system for studies on cholinergic synapses. Most of the contributions include a detailed description of the preparation and utilization of a particular cholinergic system and many of the chapters include a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the particular system for studies of cholinergic transmission. A delightful introductory chapter by Macintosh examines our development of an understanding of the various components of the cholinergic synapse from an historical point of view, and thus sets the stage for the remaining contributions. The study of cholinergic systems in invertebrates has been characterized by an ability to identify individual cholinergic neurons and their synaptic targets. McCaman and Ono examine the properties of such identified neurons in the mollusc Aplysia californica, and discuss their contributions to our understanding of the potential multiple actions of acetylcholine on a single neuron. The Torpedo electromotor system has been extensively utilized as a source of homogeneous cholinergic synaptic elements for biochemical studies. Aronstam describes, in considerable detail, the structure of this tissue and the preparation of both pre- and postosynaptic elements. There are two chapters on the heart and its parasympathetic innervation. Loffelholz and his colleagues describe the use of isolated heart preparations and Sastre and Young describe the preparation of cardiocyte and mixed cardiocyte-neuronal cultures. Chapters on several classical pre-
parations follow, including those on the isolated, perfused, rat hemidiaphragm (Bierkamper and Goldherg); myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle (Kilbinger); superior cervical ganglion (Collier and Kwok; McAfee); avian ciliary ganglion (Pilar and Turtle); and vertebrate retina (Neal and Cunningham). These are excellent contributions which present, for the most part, clear descriptions of the tissue preparations and, in some instances, the organ baths required for their utilization. The remaining contributions describe the use of brain slices (Weiler, Misgeld and Jenden); brain synaptosomes (Gibson and Blass); and the properties of the nicotinic, acetylcholine receptor, ionic-channel complex (Spivak and Albuquerque). As a guide to the selection and use of model cholinergic systems, this book achieves a worthwhile objective and it will
doubtless serve as a valuable guide for new investigators seeking suitable preparations for their studies on cholinergic mechanisms. As general reading, the book is less appealing since its contents tend, of necessity, to he repetitive in nature. A logical inclusion in a book of this type could have been contributions on an accepted central cholinergic model system such as the motor axon collateral synapse on the Renshaw cell of the spinal cord, and perhaps a discussion of acetylcholine release from the in situ CNS. Overall the book has been well pro. duced and is gratifyingly free from errors. The authors are to he congratulated on having induced their contributors to adhere to a generally uniform format. JOHNw PHILLIS The author is Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.
cally orientated, covering the use of glucagon to facilitate radiographic and endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract, and in the management of spastic Glucagon in Gastroenterology and disorders of the gut. Glucagon has clearly Hepatology: Pharmacological, Clinical and proved useful in facilitating examination of Therapeutic Implications the g.i. tract, but further carefully controb led trials are required to establish its value edited by J. Picazo, M T P Press, 1982. in treating conditions such as biliary tract £14.95 (ix + 203 pages) I S B N 0 8 5 2 0 0 disease and acute diverticulitis. There are 477 8 two non-clinical papers in this part of the Glucagon is a pancreatic polypepfide which book; a possible physiological role for increases plasma glucose levels and has an glucagon as an inhibitor of gastric acid important role in the maintenance of normal secretion is discussed by Christiansen and, metabolism. Two other effects of in the only pharmacological paper, glucagon, its spasmolytic action on gas- Diamant describes a synthetic analogue of trointestina/ (g.i.) smooth muscle and its glucagon that, at least in animal experiability to enhance liver cell growth, were raents, retains its spasmolytic activity but the subject of an international workshop, lacks metabolic effects. The remaining four held in Madrid in October 1981. The pro. papers in the book are concerned with horceedings of that workshop are presented in monal influences on liver growth, and the possible value of glucagon in combination this book, entitled Glucagon in Gastroenwith insulin in the treatment of alcoholic terology and Hepatology. A general review by Jaspan on the hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure. The value of a scientific workshop lies as pathophysiology of glucagon is followed by seven papers related to the spasmolytic much in the discussion periods as in the sciaction of glucagon. Most of these are clini- entific papers themselves. As the record of
Glucagon for specialists
T I P S - October 1983
11 Crews,F. T., Morita, Y., Hiram,F., Axelrod,J. and Siraganian,R P. (1980)B/ochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 93, 42-49 12 Crews,F. T., Morita, Y., McGivney,A., Hiram, F., Siraganian,R. P. and Axelrod,L (198l)Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 212, 561-571 13 McGivney,A., Morita,Y., Crews, F. T., Hiram, F., Axelrod,]. and Siraganian,R. P. (1981)Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 212, 572-580 14 Hiram,F. (1981)J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7730-7733 15 Urata,C. and Siraganinn,R. P. ( 1983) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 42, 1342 16 Sullivan, T. S. (1981) in Biochemistry of the
Acute Allergic Reaction (Becker, E. L, Simon,
A. S. and Austen, K. F., eels), Vol. 14, pp 229-238, AlanR. Liss, NewYork 17 Siraganinn,R P. (1981) in Ce//u/arFunctionsin lmmunily and Inflammation (~ i m ,
J. J.,
Rosenstretch, D. R. aad Potter, M., eds), pp. 323-354, ElsevierNorth-Holland,New York 18 Sieghart,W., Theoharides,T. C., Alper, S. L, Douglas,W. W. and Greengard,P. (1978)Nature (London) 275,329-331 19 ~ , T. C., Sieghall,W., C_aeengard,P. and Douglas,W. W. (1980)Science207, 80--82 20 Hempstead,B. L., Kulezycki,A. Jr and Parker,
C W (1981)Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 98, 815--822 Reuben P. Siragaman obtained his M D at the State University of New York Downstate Medir.alCenter, in 1962. He then undertook training m internal medicine and from 1965 to 1968 he was Fellow in Microbiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he obtained a Ph.D. Since 1973 he has been Head of the Section of Clinical Immunology of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology at the National Institute of Dental Research.
Ill
Books Cholinergic synapses Progress in Cholinergic Biology: Model Cholinergic Synapses edited by Israel Hanin and A l a n M. Goldberg, Raven Press, 1982. $85.56 (xiv 4- 365pages) I S B N 0 89004 758 8
The contents of this volume place it in the genre of 'how to' books; in this instance, how to select and utilize an appropriate system for studies on cholinergic synapses. Most of the contributions include a detailed description of the preparation and utilization of a particular cholinergic system and many of the chapters include a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the particular system for studies of cholinergic transmission. A delightful introductory chapter by Macintosh examines our development of an understanding of the various components of the cholinergic synapse from an historical point of view, and thus sets the stage for the remaining contributions. The study of cholinergic systems in invertebrates has been characterized by an ability to identify individual cholinergic neurons and their synaptic targets. McCaman and Ono examine the properties of such identified neurons in the mollusc Aplysia californica, and discuss their contributions to our understanding of the potential multiple actions of acetylcholine on a single neuron. The Torpedo electromotor system has been extensively utilized as a source of homogeneous cholinergic synaptic elements for biochemical studies. Aronstam describes, in considerable detail, the structure of this tissue and the preparation of both pre- and postosynaptic elements. There are two chapters on the heart and its parasympathetic innervation. Loffelholz and his colleagues describe the use of isolated heart preparations and Sastre and Young describe the preparation of cardiocyte and mixed cardiocyte-neuronal cultures. Chapters on several classical pre-
parations follow, including those on the isolated, perfused, rat hemidiaphragm (Bierkamper and Goldherg); myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle (Kilbinger); superior cervical ganglion (Collier and Kwok; McAfee); avian ciliary ganglion (Pilar and Turtle); and vertebrate retina (Neal and Cunningham). These are excellent contributions which present, for the most part, clear descriptions of the tissue preparations and, in some instances, the organ baths required for their utilization. The remaining contributions describe the use of brain slices (Weiler, Misgeld and Jenden); brain synaptosomes (Gibson and Blass); and the properties of the nicotinic, acetylcholine receptor, ionic-channel complex (Spivak and Albuquerque). As a guide to the selection and use of model cholinergic systems, this book achieves a worthwhile objective and it will
doubtless serve as a valuable guide for new investigators seeking suitable preparations for their studies on cholinergic mechanisms. As general reading, the book is less appealing since its contents tend, of necessity, to he repetitive in nature. A logical inclusion in a book of this type could have been contributions on an accepted central cholinergic model system such as the motor axon collateral synapse on the Renshaw cell of the spinal cord, and perhaps a discussion of acetylcholine release from the in situ CNS. Overall the book has been well pro. duced and is gratifyingly free from errors. The authors are to he congratulated on having induced their contributors to adhere to a generally uniform format. JOHNw PHILLIS The author is Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.
cally orientated, covering the use of glucagon to facilitate radiographic and endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract, and in the management of spastic Glucagon in Gastroenterology and disorders of the gut. Glucagon has clearly Hepatology: Pharmacological, Clinical and proved useful in facilitating examination of Therapeutic Implications the g.i. tract, but further carefully controb led trials are required to establish its value edited by J. Picazo, M T P Press, 1982. in treating conditions such as biliary tract £14.95 (ix + 203 pages) I S B N 0 8 5 2 0 0 disease and acute diverticulitis. There are 477 8 two non-clinical papers in this part of the Glucagon is a pancreatic polypepfide which book; a possible physiological role for increases plasma glucose levels and has an glucagon as an inhibitor of gastric acid important role in the maintenance of normal secretion is discussed by Christiansen and, metabolism. Two other effects of in the only pharmacological paper, glucagon, its spasmolytic action on gas- Diamant describes a synthetic analogue of trointestina/ (g.i.) smooth muscle and its glucagon that, at least in animal experiability to enhance liver cell growth, were raents, retains its spasmolytic activity but the subject of an international workshop, lacks metabolic effects. The remaining four held in Madrid in October 1981. The pro. papers in the book are concerned with horceedings of that workshop are presented in monal influences on liver growth, and the possible value of glucagon in combination this book, entitled Glucagon in Gastroenwith insulin in the treatment of alcoholic terology and Hepatology. A general review by Jaspan on the hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure. The value of a scientific workshop lies as pathophysiology of glucagon is followed by seven papers related to the spasmolytic much in the discussion periods as in the sciaction of glucagon. Most of these are clini- entific papers themselves. As the record of
Glucagon for specialists