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Burger's Medicinal Chemistry, 4th edn, part III
266
inbrain. The tenu, in~~lul~ purinergic teceptots, is used quite unconveb tionally for cyclic nuclcotidadependent pmtein kinases IUKIadenosine metabolizing enzymes, whereas the important intracelluGail biting protein. lar Sadenosylhomocysteine hydrolasa, has not bc-n mentioned. The next article co% siders the evidence for presynaptic purinergic receptors in different nerve terminals and the possible ~hani~s of such presynaptic neuromcdula~ion. Another review describes receptors for ADP and adenosine in blood platelets which 8132 u~~tionably independent entities. Londos, Wolff and Cooper give an excellent view of adenosine 8s a regulator of adenylate qclase. This
enzyme provided a successful model for examining adenosine receptors in plasma membrane preparations and enabled the development of the lirst well-established classification of stimulatory R. and inhibitory RI receptor subtypes. The volume closes with an article on pholoaffrnity analogues of adenosine and adenine nut leotides and their possible use HSphotcb sfinity iigands for purinergic receptors. This book is the first extensive presenta. tion of purinergic and adenosine receptors and will draw much additional attention to this steadily growing field of receptor research. ULRICH SCHWARE
ism drugs and one on skeletal muscle relaxants. The arrangement of the chapters is a little Bnrger*s Medicinal Chemistry, 4th edn. puzzling. The book starts with a short chap part 1JJ ter on anti-aging drugs. followed by one on edited by Munfred E. W5!& John Wiley ~~~ti~ drugs. DNgS acting on the & Sons, f981. f63.35 (xiv + 1354 thyroid come next-but-one (following carpqes) ISBN 0471 Of572 5 diac drugs). Their appearance early in the This is a remarkable book. It is the last part volume suggests that they were left over of this new edition of a well-established text from other hormones which are mostly and consists of 28 chapters [over 1300 dealtwith in part 11.Chapters on steroidal non-stemidal pages) by separate authors. The book cov- and ~t~~~amrnat~ ers mainly drugs acting on per@heral sites: agents, however, come at the end of this the heart, kidney, ‘adrewrgics’, ‘cholinerg- book. A chapter on antihypertensive agents 1 ‘anticholiuergics’. neummnscular follows the one on ‘adrenergics’ and preGLing agents. kx3l anae&etics and hist- cedes the connote of drugs acting cenamine FL-receptor agonists and antago% trally. A chapter on inhibito~of~ allergic ists; and drugs acting at sites in the CNS: response follows, rather than precedes, the general anaesthetics. analgesics, antitus Hrreceptors agonists and antagonists. A sives. sedativehypnotics. anticonvulsants, chapter on radiwnpaque drugs comes antipsychoties. antianxiety agents antide- towards the end of the book. pressant agents, anorexigenics. hall& With such a wide range of material it is cinogens, a short ch8pter on antiParkinsorr probably impossible to produce an entirely
logical sequence. What is impressive is ihe vast amount of info~tion which has been collected together and the competent way in which it has been handled in most of the chapters. There is usually a good descrip tion of the biological backgmund and eon. sidering the large number of authors involved there is in general a consistently high level of treatment and presentation. Whether this retlects high editorial performance or the choice of good authors, or both, does not matter; the result is a text which is extremely valuable. It is also well printed and illustrated. It is not, of course. the last word on any one topic. With deve~~n~ occuning so rapidly in many subjects, I do not suppose the authors would claim that it could be, It is. however. aa admirable text for anyone wishing to get started and deserves every success.
p~~rgic receptors. The next chapter describes the actions of purine derivalives on visceral smooth muscle which are indicated to be post-synaptic. It contains acareful and critical discussion on the still controversial hypothesis that ATP is the inhibitory transmitter of the purinergrc nervous system. Another paper considers the purinergic receptors in blood vessels, the regional variation and the suggested mode of action of purine compounds. The anicle by J. Schrader on the site of action and production of adenosine in the heart provides an excellent review of the current knowledge of the regulafoty role of adenosine in the heart. In the following chapter, H. Mcllwain describes extracellular and intracellulur purinergic receptor-
systems
7’he m&w is Dirtvtur ctf the tnstirut fit &w. makologie uad Torikchgie, Univemitiit Berm, llow. F.R.G.
R. B. BARLOW
inbrain. The tenu, in~~lul~ purinergic teceptots, is used quite unconveb tionally for cyclic nuclcotidadependent pmtein kinases IUKIadenosine metabolizing enzymes, whereas the important intracelluGail biting protein. lar Sadenosylhomocysteine hydrolasa, has not bc-n mentioned. The next article co% siders the evidence for presynaptic purinergic receptors in different nerve terminals and the possible ~hani~s of such presynaptic neuromcdula~ion. Another review describes receptors for ADP and adenosine in blood platelets which 8132 u~~tionably independent entities. Londos, Wolff and Cooper give an excellent view of adenosine 8s a regulator of adenylate qclase. This
enzyme provided a successful model for examining adenosine receptors in plasma membrane preparations and enabled the development of the lirst well-established classification of stimulatory R. and inhibitory RI receptor subtypes. The volume closes with an article on pholoaffrnity analogues of adenosine and adenine nut leotides and their possible use HSphotcb sfinity iigands for purinergic receptors. This book is the first extensive presenta. tion of purinergic and adenosine receptors and will draw much additional attention to this steadily growing field of receptor research. ULRICH SCHWARE
ism drugs and one on skeletal muscle relaxants. The arrangement of the chapters is a little Bnrger*s Medicinal Chemistry, 4th edn. puzzling. The book starts with a short chap part 1JJ ter on anti-aging drugs. followed by one on edited by Munfred E. W5!& John Wiley ~~~ti~ drugs. DNgS acting on the & Sons, f981. f63.35 (xiv + 1354 thyroid come next-but-one (following carpqes) ISBN 0471 Of572 5 diac drugs). Their appearance early in the This is a remarkable book. It is the last part volume suggests that they were left over of this new edition of a well-established text from other hormones which are mostly and consists of 28 chapters [over 1300 dealtwith in part 11.Chapters on steroidal non-stemidal pages) by separate authors. The book cov- and ~t~~~amrnat~ ers mainly drugs acting on per@heral sites: agents, however, come at the end of this the heart, kidney, ‘adrewrgics’, ‘cholinerg- book. A chapter on antihypertensive agents 1 ‘anticholiuergics’. neummnscular follows the one on ‘adrenergics’ and preGLing agents. kx3l anae&etics and hist- cedes the connote of drugs acting cenamine FL-receptor agonists and antago% trally. A chapter on inhibito~of~ allergic ists; and drugs acting at sites in the CNS: response follows, rather than precedes, the general anaesthetics. analgesics, antitus Hrreceptors agonists and antagonists. A sives. sedativehypnotics. anticonvulsants, chapter on radiwnpaque drugs comes antipsychoties. antianxiety agents antide- towards the end of the book. pressant agents, anorexigenics. hall& With such a wide range of material it is cinogens, a short ch8pter on antiParkinsorr probably impossible to produce an entirely
logical sequence. What is impressive is ihe vast amount of info~tion which has been collected together and the competent way in which it has been handled in most of the chapters. There is usually a good descrip tion of the biological backgmund and eon. sidering the large number of authors involved there is in general a consistently high level of treatment and presentation. Whether this retlects high editorial performance or the choice of good authors, or both, does not matter; the result is a text which is extremely valuable. It is also well printed and illustrated. It is not, of course. the last word on any one topic. With deve~~n~ occuning so rapidly in many subjects, I do not suppose the authors would claim that it could be, It is. however. aa admirable text for anyone wishing to get started and deserves every success.
p~~rgic receptors. The next chapter describes the actions of purine derivalives on visceral smooth muscle which are indicated to be post-synaptic. It contains acareful and critical discussion on the still controversial hypothesis that ATP is the inhibitory transmitter of the purinergrc nervous system. Another paper considers the purinergic receptors in blood vessels, the regional variation and the suggested mode of action of purine compounds. The anicle by J. Schrader on the site of action and production of adenosine in the heart provides an excellent review of the current knowledge of the regulafoty role of adenosine in the heart. In the following chapter, H. Mcllwain describes extracellular and intracellulur purinergic receptor-
systems
7’he m&w is Dirtvtur ctf the tnstirut fit &w. makologie uad Torikchgie, Univemitiit Berm, llow. F.R.G.
R. B. BARLOW