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Catecholamines. Part A: Basic and peripheral mechanisms
BOOK REVIEWS
821
Catecholamines.
Part A: Basic and Peripheral Mechanisms. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. R. Liss, New York, 1984, 420 pp., $120.00. Catecholamines. Part B: Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System-Theoretical Aspects. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. ENGEL.Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan R. Liss, New York, 1984, 520 pp., $140.00. Catecholamines. part C: Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System-Therapeutic Aspects. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. ENGEL. Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan R. Liss, New York, 1984, 260 pp., $95.00. ENGEI.. Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan
THIS three-volume set constitutes the proceedings of the Fifth International Catecholamine Symposium, held in Goteborg, Sweden (June 1983). These volumes underscore major advances in catecholamine (CA) research which have been made over the past 5 yr. To paraphrase the concluding remarks of M. Sandlrr, “the catecholamine universe continues to expand”. The organization of the papers into separate volumes according to topic is extremely useful; readers may wish to purchase the entire set, or alternatively they may purchase individual volumes according to their research interests. The themes which govern this arrangement are based on the focal points ofcatecholamine research: Basic und Peripheral Mechanisms (Part A), Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System -~-Theoretkd Aspects (Part B) and Neuropharmacology und Central Nervous System-Therapeutic Aspects (Part C). Each volume contains the plenary and symposia talks which are organized into relevant sections, with an introduction and summary for each section. In this regard the books are well organized and reading is facilitated. Part A is concerned with basic mechanisms of catecholamine neurons, such as storage, release, uptake, metabolism. receptor function and cardiovascular regulation. This volume includes important advances in biochemical genetics ofcatecholamine enzymes, and new findings relating to mechanisms ofCA release from adrenal medulla. Particularly good overviews of neurotransmitter plasticity and development, and of protein phosphorylation are presented. It is clear from the chapters in this volume that significant methodological breakthroughs have contributed greatly to further understanding of basic mechanisms. For those interested in the behavioural functions of catecholamines and their role in neurological and mental disease. Volumes B and C are most pertinent. The first part of Volume B focuses on recent advances in central CA pharmacology and in central regulatory mechanisms. Here again one realizes the significant technological advances which have been made, such as autoradiographic visualization of receptors, which provides detailed mapping of brain CA receptors, and in viuo receptor measurement techniques, which provide a new perspective for assessing receptor function. The significance of neuropeptide+atecholamine interactions (and their co-localization) 1s affirmed in a section devoted to this topic; it is now apparent that neuropeptides exert an important modulatory influence on the activity of CA neurons. In the section “Catecholamines and Integrative Behaviors”, new findings and hypotheses on the behavioural role of these neurones are put forward. Interestingly, two review chapters on this subject conclude that catecholamines appear not to have a primary role in the transmission of discrete sensory or motor information, but rather a modulatory, non-specific ‘gating’ function. It is noteworthy that many of the electrophysiological data, presented in a separate section, are in agreement with this hypothesis. Further sections in this volume examine alcohol effects on CA neurons, and neuroendocrinology. In the final volume (C) recent approaches and findings are presented concerning human catecholamine dysfunction and brain disorders. Particularly good, up-to-date summaries are provided on catecholamines in psychiatric disorders, a field which is often full of conflicting and confusing results. The second section deals with motor malfunctions, and here we find results bearing on the neurochemistry of Parkinson’s disease (including new data on peptide alterations in this disease), as well as research on tardive dyskinesia. A large section is devoted to the controversial field ofcerebrospinal fluid studies in psychiatric disease; here there are good review chapters and new, improved, methodologies are noted. The final section highlights research on brain transplants and central regeneration. The theoretical and therapeutic implications of this research make it one of the most exciting in catecholamine neurobiology. In summary, this work contains many new findings which span very broad fields of interest, but its division into thematic volumes makes it easier to extract pertinent data from such a vast amount of information. I would recommend individual volumes according to research interests, and the entire set would be a useful. up-to-date library addition on catecholamine research. ANN E. KELLEV
Memory Consolidation-- Psychobiology of Cognition. Edited Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey. 1984, 272 pp., $29.95.
by H. WEINGARTNER and E. S. PA\RKI:K. Lawrence
THE PIJRPOS~of this book is to provide different views, from human cognitive psychology, ammal learning psychology, pathology of human memory and neurobiology, on the concept of memory consolidelion. In the first chapter, R. Esposito gives an overview of the relationships between brain systems involved in reinforcement and reward and those playing a role in learning and memory. The next three chapters are devoted to
821
Catecholamines.
Part A: Basic and Peripheral Mechanisms. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. R. Liss, New York, 1984, 420 pp., $120.00. Catecholamines. Part B: Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System-Theoretical Aspects. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. ENGEL.Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan R. Liss, New York, 1984, 520 pp., $140.00. Catecholamines. part C: Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System-Therapeutic Aspects. Edited by E. USDIN, A. CARLSSON,A. DAHLSTROMand J. ENGEL. Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan R. Liss, New York, 1984, 260 pp., $95.00. ENGEI.. Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 8. Alan
THIS three-volume set constitutes the proceedings of the Fifth International Catecholamine Symposium, held in Goteborg, Sweden (June 1983). These volumes underscore major advances in catecholamine (CA) research which have been made over the past 5 yr. To paraphrase the concluding remarks of M. Sandlrr, “the catecholamine universe continues to expand”. The organization of the papers into separate volumes according to topic is extremely useful; readers may wish to purchase the entire set, or alternatively they may purchase individual volumes according to their research interests. The themes which govern this arrangement are based on the focal points ofcatecholamine research: Basic und Peripheral Mechanisms (Part A), Neuropharmacology and Central Nervous System -~-Theoretkd Aspects (Part B) and Neuropharmacology und Central Nervous System-Therapeutic Aspects (Part C). Each volume contains the plenary and symposia talks which are organized into relevant sections, with an introduction and summary for each section. In this regard the books are well organized and reading is facilitated. Part A is concerned with basic mechanisms of catecholamine neurons, such as storage, release, uptake, metabolism. receptor function and cardiovascular regulation. This volume includes important advances in biochemical genetics ofcatecholamine enzymes, and new findings relating to mechanisms ofCA release from adrenal medulla. Particularly good overviews of neurotransmitter plasticity and development, and of protein phosphorylation are presented. It is clear from the chapters in this volume that significant methodological breakthroughs have contributed greatly to further understanding of basic mechanisms. For those interested in the behavioural functions of catecholamines and their role in neurological and mental disease. Volumes B and C are most pertinent. The first part of Volume B focuses on recent advances in central CA pharmacology and in central regulatory mechanisms. Here again one realizes the significant technological advances which have been made, such as autoradiographic visualization of receptors, which provides detailed mapping of brain CA receptors, and in viuo receptor measurement techniques, which provide a new perspective for assessing receptor function. The significance of neuropeptide+atecholamine interactions (and their co-localization) 1s affirmed in a section devoted to this topic; it is now apparent that neuropeptides exert an important modulatory influence on the activity of CA neurons. In the section “Catecholamines and Integrative Behaviors”, new findings and hypotheses on the behavioural role of these neurones are put forward. Interestingly, two review chapters on this subject conclude that catecholamines appear not to have a primary role in the transmission of discrete sensory or motor information, but rather a modulatory, non-specific ‘gating’ function. It is noteworthy that many of the electrophysiological data, presented in a separate section, are in agreement with this hypothesis. Further sections in this volume examine alcohol effects on CA neurons, and neuroendocrinology. In the final volume (C) recent approaches and findings are presented concerning human catecholamine dysfunction and brain disorders. Particularly good, up-to-date summaries are provided on catecholamines in psychiatric disorders, a field which is often full of conflicting and confusing results. The second section deals with motor malfunctions, and here we find results bearing on the neurochemistry of Parkinson’s disease (including new data on peptide alterations in this disease), as well as research on tardive dyskinesia. A large section is devoted to the controversial field ofcerebrospinal fluid studies in psychiatric disease; here there are good review chapters and new, improved, methodologies are noted. The final section highlights research on brain transplants and central regeneration. The theoretical and therapeutic implications of this research make it one of the most exciting in catecholamine neurobiology. In summary, this work contains many new findings which span very broad fields of interest, but its division into thematic volumes makes it easier to extract pertinent data from such a vast amount of information. I would recommend individual volumes according to research interests, and the entire set would be a useful. up-to-date library addition on catecholamine research. ANN E. KELLEV
Memory Consolidation-- Psychobiology of Cognition. Edited Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey. 1984, 272 pp., $29.95.
by H. WEINGARTNER and E. S. PA\RKI:K. Lawrence
THE PIJRPOS~of this book is to provide different views, from human cognitive psychology, ammal learning psychology, pathology of human memory and neurobiology, on the concept of memory consolidelion. In the first chapter, R. Esposito gives an overview of the relationships between brain systems involved in reinforcement and reward and those playing a role in learning and memory. The next three chapters are devoted to