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Cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission. NATO ASI series H: Cell biology
BOOK REVIEWS
551
trode linkages in all the 10 previous chapters, 5 figures are included of EEGs with hand-drawn arrows, likely on a printed head, but the head and the time lines are now invisible. On the other hand, the reader will likely figure out the montage. One other point must be made and that refers to the statement that 'brain death is a clinical diagnosis ... based upon clinical neurological observation.' The point is first made that in the U.S.A. brain death is death of the entire brain, involving both cerebral structures and the brain-stem, the former determined with a machine-the EEG (or CRAG) and the latter with a clinician checking reflexes. One should not then claim that the diagnosis is clinical, based only on clinical observations, since the latter refers only to the brain-stem and its viability. This review has mentioned a few critical comments, but most of them should be regarded more as cavils rather than substantive criticisms. In general, this book is outstanding and is highly recommended for all EEG technologists. As one last example of the carefulness with which Volume 2 was put together, this reviewer found only 4 typographical errors.
John R. Hughes
University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 (U.S.A.)
Die Huntington'sche Krankheit. - G. Deuschl, G. Oepen and G. Wolff (Eds.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, xi + 175 p., DM 44.00, ISBN 3-540-18371-x) The book consists of the papers which were presented at a symposium on Huntington's disease held in 1986 in Freiburg, F.R.G. The papers cover clinical aspects including psychiatric and social components, problems in genetic diagnostics and genetic counselling, neurophysiological and neuropsychological findings, neuro-imaging results, biochemical mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Of interest to the EEGer might be a report on 10 patients by Emser et al. on reduced occurrence of stage 2 sleep spindles; they consider a possible dopamine phenomenon in view of the sleep spindle decrease in parkinsonian patients. A related paper by Oepen reports increased K-complex occurrence in risk cases but no other sleep abnormalities. The book also includes a German translation of the guidelines which were compiled by the Paediatric Testing Committee of the European Section of the International Huntington Association and the World Federation of Neurologists, Research Commission on Huntington's disease. The guidelines are followed by a short, constructive commentary. The book is of interest to those who read German and have a special interest in the field. D. Lehmann
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, 8091 Zurich (Switzerland)
Cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission. NATO ASI series H: Cell biology. - H. Zimmermann (Ed.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, xv + 547 p., 190 figs., DM 268.00, ISBN 3-54018562-3) Bringing together the work of several basic neuroscientists, this volume examines the molecular and cellular basis of processes underlying synaptic signalhng. Pharmacological, morphological and electrophysiological studies are presented in order to show how the various disciplines are rapidly increasing our knowledge of synaptic transmission. In addition, this book offers the possibility of understanding the particular contribution made by the isolation of synaptosomes from guinea pig brain by Whittaker and his colleagues at the beginning of the 1960s, in which they disclosed the molecular processes of synaptic function. This technique provided the biochemist with an in vitro preparation to study transmitter uptake, synthesis, storage and release in various transmitter systems. The link between this technical progress and some new theoretical concepts in neurobiology is a good example of how the understanding of a principal biological mechanism is very often the result of an integrative approach. Recently, the application of the techniques of molecular genetics has greatly accelerated the identification of individual proteins involved in the synaptic function. The morphological techniques now allow the study of synaptic vesicle exocytosis in the millisecond range. Immunocytochemical studies recently revealed co-localization of synaptically active substances in many types of neurones. In addition, new electrophysiological techniques provide the possibility of understanding the links between membrane ionic channels, neuronal receptors and intracellular transduction systems. These different multidisciplinary approaches give crucial information concerning the modification of several physiological synaptic processes during pathological conditions (i.e., anoxia). In conclusion, this book provides a wide view of the technical and theoretical aspects related to the study of the cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission. For this reason it can be considered a very useful instrument for pharmacologists, morphologists, electrophysiologists and clinicians involved in basic neuroscience. Giorgio Bernardi
Neurologia Clinica, H Universitgt di Roma "Tor Vergata," Via O. Raimondo, 00173 Rome (Italy)
Current topics in pathology. Vol. 76. Neuropathology. - B. Collins (Ed.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, 155 p.) The topics treated in this volume deal with classical neuropathological areas such as non-missile head injuries, viral encephalitis, neuropathological problems related to the post mortem or bioptic examination of the nervous system, aging and dementia. The methodology of histopathological examination and the careful exposition of the clinical and etiopatho-
551
trode linkages in all the 10 previous chapters, 5 figures are included of EEGs with hand-drawn arrows, likely on a printed head, but the head and the time lines are now invisible. On the other hand, the reader will likely figure out the montage. One other point must be made and that refers to the statement that 'brain death is a clinical diagnosis ... based upon clinical neurological observation.' The point is first made that in the U.S.A. brain death is death of the entire brain, involving both cerebral structures and the brain-stem, the former determined with a machine-the EEG (or CRAG) and the latter with a clinician checking reflexes. One should not then claim that the diagnosis is clinical, based only on clinical observations, since the latter refers only to the brain-stem and its viability. This review has mentioned a few critical comments, but most of them should be regarded more as cavils rather than substantive criticisms. In general, this book is outstanding and is highly recommended for all EEG technologists. As one last example of the carefulness with which Volume 2 was put together, this reviewer found only 4 typographical errors.
John R. Hughes
University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 (U.S.A.)
Die Huntington'sche Krankheit. - G. Deuschl, G. Oepen and G. Wolff (Eds.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, xi + 175 p., DM 44.00, ISBN 3-540-18371-x) The book consists of the papers which were presented at a symposium on Huntington's disease held in 1986 in Freiburg, F.R.G. The papers cover clinical aspects including psychiatric and social components, problems in genetic diagnostics and genetic counselling, neurophysiological and neuropsychological findings, neuro-imaging results, biochemical mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Of interest to the EEGer might be a report on 10 patients by Emser et al. on reduced occurrence of stage 2 sleep spindles; they consider a possible dopamine phenomenon in view of the sleep spindle decrease in parkinsonian patients. A related paper by Oepen reports increased K-complex occurrence in risk cases but no other sleep abnormalities. The book also includes a German translation of the guidelines which were compiled by the Paediatric Testing Committee of the European Section of the International Huntington Association and the World Federation of Neurologists, Research Commission on Huntington's disease. The guidelines are followed by a short, constructive commentary. The book is of interest to those who read German and have a special interest in the field. D. Lehmann
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, 8091 Zurich (Switzerland)
Cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission. NATO ASI series H: Cell biology. - H. Zimmermann (Ed.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, xv + 547 p., 190 figs., DM 268.00, ISBN 3-54018562-3) Bringing together the work of several basic neuroscientists, this volume examines the molecular and cellular basis of processes underlying synaptic signalhng. Pharmacological, morphological and electrophysiological studies are presented in order to show how the various disciplines are rapidly increasing our knowledge of synaptic transmission. In addition, this book offers the possibility of understanding the particular contribution made by the isolation of synaptosomes from guinea pig brain by Whittaker and his colleagues at the beginning of the 1960s, in which they disclosed the molecular processes of synaptic function. This technique provided the biochemist with an in vitro preparation to study transmitter uptake, synthesis, storage and release in various transmitter systems. The link between this technical progress and some new theoretical concepts in neurobiology is a good example of how the understanding of a principal biological mechanism is very often the result of an integrative approach. Recently, the application of the techniques of molecular genetics has greatly accelerated the identification of individual proteins involved in the synaptic function. The morphological techniques now allow the study of synaptic vesicle exocytosis in the millisecond range. Immunocytochemical studies recently revealed co-localization of synaptically active substances in many types of neurones. In addition, new electrophysiological techniques provide the possibility of understanding the links between membrane ionic channels, neuronal receptors and intracellular transduction systems. These different multidisciplinary approaches give crucial information concerning the modification of several physiological synaptic processes during pathological conditions (i.e., anoxia). In conclusion, this book provides a wide view of the technical and theoretical aspects related to the study of the cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission. For this reason it can be considered a very useful instrument for pharmacologists, morphologists, electrophysiologists and clinicians involved in basic neuroscience. Giorgio Bernardi
Neurologia Clinica, H Universitgt di Roma "Tor Vergata," Via O. Raimondo, 00173 Rome (Italy)
Current topics in pathology. Vol. 76. Neuropathology. - B. Collins (Ed.) (Springer, Berlin, 1988, 155 p.) The topics treated in this volume deal with classical neuropathological areas such as non-missile head injuries, viral encephalitis, neuropathological problems related to the post mortem or bioptic examination of the nervous system, aging and dementia. The methodology of histopathological examination and the careful exposition of the clinical and etiopatho-