- Email: [email protected]
Biology of the uterus
252
pig and dog, in both of which species the bulk of the ejaculate enters the uterus, n o t the vagina. A valuable discussion of in vitro fertilisation is presented in Chapter 5, with useful details of a system for gametes of the golden hamster, but w h y should this appear before chapters dealing with sperm capacitation, the acrosome reaction, and the ensuing events of sperm attachment, penetration and fusion? In fairness to the author, perhaps because techniques of in vitro fertilisation have enabled processes such as capacitation and membrane vesiculation of spermatozoa to be analysed, b u t this is scarcely adequate justification for putting the cart before the horse. The precise character of sperm surface changes in the female tract is still to be resolved, but this reviewer does n o t like the notion that full capacitation occurs in the uterus of mammals. It seems more probable that the uterus and oviducts act synergistically to facilitate this change which, from the point of view of the e c o n o m y of acrosomal enzymes and sperm energy reserves, would more logically be completed in the vicinity of the eggs. Reasoning in the same vein, the acrosome reaction might best be stimulated by components emanating from or remaining in association with the zona pellucida. And, again in contrast to Gwatkin's viewpoint, recent studies suggest that much of the sperm hyaluronidase can be liberated before the acrosome reaction is conspicuous. Mechanisms for binding spermatozoa to the zona pellucida, and those underlying prevention or manipulation of polyspermy, represent active interests of Gwatkin's group, this being well conveyed in the detailed and enthusiastic flavour of these chapters. The final chapters dealing respectively with parthenogenesis and unanswered problems related to fertilisation are also timely, and the bibliography is comprehensive and an invaluable feature of the book. Criticisms of a general nature concern the quality of the photographs which would have been better printed on glossy paper, and the scant attention paid to p r o o f reading: many typographical errors remain, with one particular howler on p. 14 where the dry weight of a bull spermatozoon is presented as 16.5 × 1012g -- clearly n o t a haploid cell! Nevertheless, because the b o o k is well-written and concise, stimulating in terms of emphasizing current areas of gamete research in mammals, and none t o o expensive by modern standards, its publication is welcome and it surely deserves to join the shelves of research institutes and university departments. R.H.F. H U N T E R
(Edinburgh, Great Britain)
NEW TEXT ON UTERINE PHYSIOLOGY
Biology of the Uterus. 2nd Edition of Cellular Biology of the Uterus (ed. in 1967}. R.W. Wynn (Editor). Plenum Press, New York, N.Y., 1977, 748 pp., tables, figures, plates and references. "Biology of the Uterus", edited by R.W. Wynn in 1977, is a new version of "Cellular Biology of the Uterus" published ten years ago. According to
253
the editor, this new book provides a new synthesis on uterine physiology for which he has called upon the help of numerous contributors. After a brief history of the advance of knowledge on the uterine functions (E. Ramsey), a series of chapters is devoted to anatomy, with a comparative anatomy (H.W. Mossmann), an embryology of the human genito-urinary tract {R.O. Rahilly), and a vascular anatomy and physiology (E. Ramsey and E. Marowsky). Following them, there is a chapter on uterine metabolism and its genetic, biochemical and hormonal regulation (K.W. MacKerns). A special part is given on estrogen and protein synthesis (S.J. Segal). Then, the physiology of the endometrium is discussed in regard to the implantation of the embryo. The mechanism of delayed implantation is compared in different mammals (C. Enders). The implantation reaction in the preparation of the embryonic attachment is described with its hormonal control (C.A. Finn). The morphology of the endometrium is also presented as seen by ultrastructural studies or by scanning electronmicroscopy (R. Wynn, E.S.E. Hafez and H. Ludwig). Special attention is given to the human endometrium and to pathology (A. Terenczy). In three chapters, the biochemistry of the myometrium is developed with its electrophysiological properties, and the contractile mechanism in relation to the ultrastructure of this smooth muscle (G. Hamoir, C. Kao and C. Schonberg). The uterine control of ovarian function (L.L. Anderson) and the endocrine control of parturition (G.D. Thorburn) are then described. In this book, some chapters have been taken and completed from the preceding edition of "Cellular Biology of the Uterus" with slight modifications. This is the case with vascular anatomy, with comparative embryology and with the part on the electrophysiological properties of the uterine muscle. As the anatomy and the morphology are emphasized, it should be noted that this new version lacks a presentation of the uterine innervation and nervous regulation of uterine motility. Other parts, however, provide good reviews on the implantation process and on the influence of estrogens on uterine metabolism. They are enlarged by the chapters on uterine ovarian control and on parturition. These last two parts can be found in other publications but they have a logical place in this edition. The parts on endometrial morphology and pathology also add to the value of this new book. The content of this work gives a useful and relatively recent synthesis on most points of the biology of the uterus. This should give satisfaction to clinicians, graduate students and scientists who need to enlarge their knowledge of the physiology of this organ. The book has 748 pages with 53 tables, 263 figures and plates and 2729 references. The quality of the illustrations, the arrangement of each chapter, and the whole presentation, make it attractive. M.J. BOSC, M.J. PRUD'HOMME, M. TERQUI
pig and dog, in both of which species the bulk of the ejaculate enters the uterus, n o t the vagina. A valuable discussion of in vitro fertilisation is presented in Chapter 5, with useful details of a system for gametes of the golden hamster, but w h y should this appear before chapters dealing with sperm capacitation, the acrosome reaction, and the ensuing events of sperm attachment, penetration and fusion? In fairness to the author, perhaps because techniques of in vitro fertilisation have enabled processes such as capacitation and membrane vesiculation of spermatozoa to be analysed, b u t this is scarcely adequate justification for putting the cart before the horse. The precise character of sperm surface changes in the female tract is still to be resolved, but this reviewer does n o t like the notion that full capacitation occurs in the uterus of mammals. It seems more probable that the uterus and oviducts act synergistically to facilitate this change which, from the point of view of the e c o n o m y of acrosomal enzymes and sperm energy reserves, would more logically be completed in the vicinity of the eggs. Reasoning in the same vein, the acrosome reaction might best be stimulated by components emanating from or remaining in association with the zona pellucida. And, again in contrast to Gwatkin's viewpoint, recent studies suggest that much of the sperm hyaluronidase can be liberated before the acrosome reaction is conspicuous. Mechanisms for binding spermatozoa to the zona pellucida, and those underlying prevention or manipulation of polyspermy, represent active interests of Gwatkin's group, this being well conveyed in the detailed and enthusiastic flavour of these chapters. The final chapters dealing respectively with parthenogenesis and unanswered problems related to fertilisation are also timely, and the bibliography is comprehensive and an invaluable feature of the book. Criticisms of a general nature concern the quality of the photographs which would have been better printed on glossy paper, and the scant attention paid to p r o o f reading: many typographical errors remain, with one particular howler on p. 14 where the dry weight of a bull spermatozoon is presented as 16.5 × 1012g -- clearly n o t a haploid cell! Nevertheless, because the b o o k is well-written and concise, stimulating in terms of emphasizing current areas of gamete research in mammals, and none t o o expensive by modern standards, its publication is welcome and it surely deserves to join the shelves of research institutes and university departments. R.H.F. H U N T E R
(Edinburgh, Great Britain)
NEW TEXT ON UTERINE PHYSIOLOGY
Biology of the Uterus. 2nd Edition of Cellular Biology of the Uterus (ed. in 1967}. R.W. Wynn (Editor). Plenum Press, New York, N.Y., 1977, 748 pp., tables, figures, plates and references. "Biology of the Uterus", edited by R.W. Wynn in 1977, is a new version of "Cellular Biology of the Uterus" published ten years ago. According to
253
the editor, this new book provides a new synthesis on uterine physiology for which he has called upon the help of numerous contributors. After a brief history of the advance of knowledge on the uterine functions (E. Ramsey), a series of chapters is devoted to anatomy, with a comparative anatomy (H.W. Mossmann), an embryology of the human genito-urinary tract {R.O. Rahilly), and a vascular anatomy and physiology (E. Ramsey and E. Marowsky). Following them, there is a chapter on uterine metabolism and its genetic, biochemical and hormonal regulation (K.W. MacKerns). A special part is given on estrogen and protein synthesis (S.J. Segal). Then, the physiology of the endometrium is discussed in regard to the implantation of the embryo. The mechanism of delayed implantation is compared in different mammals (C. Enders). The implantation reaction in the preparation of the embryonic attachment is described with its hormonal control (C.A. Finn). The morphology of the endometrium is also presented as seen by ultrastructural studies or by scanning electronmicroscopy (R. Wynn, E.S.E. Hafez and H. Ludwig). Special attention is given to the human endometrium and to pathology (A. Terenczy). In three chapters, the biochemistry of the myometrium is developed with its electrophysiological properties, and the contractile mechanism in relation to the ultrastructure of this smooth muscle (G. Hamoir, C. Kao and C. Schonberg). The uterine control of ovarian function (L.L. Anderson) and the endocrine control of parturition (G.D. Thorburn) are then described. In this book, some chapters have been taken and completed from the preceding edition of "Cellular Biology of the Uterus" with slight modifications. This is the case with vascular anatomy, with comparative embryology and with the part on the electrophysiological properties of the uterine muscle. As the anatomy and the morphology are emphasized, it should be noted that this new version lacks a presentation of the uterine innervation and nervous regulation of uterine motility. Other parts, however, provide good reviews on the implantation process and on the influence of estrogens on uterine metabolism. They are enlarged by the chapters on uterine ovarian control and on parturition. These last two parts can be found in other publications but they have a logical place in this edition. The parts on endometrial morphology and pathology also add to the value of this new book. The content of this work gives a useful and relatively recent synthesis on most points of the biology of the uterus. This should give satisfaction to clinicians, graduate students and scientists who need to enlarge their knowledge of the physiology of this organ. The book has 748 pages with 53 tables, 263 figures and plates and 2729 references. The quality of the illustrations, the arrangement of each chapter, and the whole presentation, make it attractive. M.J. BOSC, M.J. PRUD'HOMME, M. TERQUI