- Email: [email protected]
Glucagon I and II: Handbook of experimental pharmacology, vol. 66
GENERAL
AND
COMPARATIVE
ENDOCRINOLOGY
59, 168-169 (1985)
BOOK REVIEWS Edited by ROBERT METZ Saunders, Philadelphia, 1985. 3% pp., Author Index, $18.95.
of Endocrinology.
present time. The two volumes thoroughly cover all phases of the subject, including the biochemical and biophysical features of “Blue Book of Endocrinology” is a small- the glucagon molecule, the cells that seformat ring-bound book that is intended for crete it, the complex regulation of glucagon use as an aid to physicians who are not nec- secretion, the numerous characterized acessarily endocrinologists in diagnosis of tions of glucagon, and the pharmacology clinical endocrine disorders. However, it is and pathology of glucagon function. certainly useful to the general student of It is interesting to learn that this peptide endocrinology for the quick insight it pro- of 29 amino acid residues is remarkably univides on the field of clinical endocrinology. form in the species from which it has been The initial chapter entitled “Acquisition of purified and sequenced. “No other horClinical Skills in Endocrinology” is an ad- mones that have been studied exhibit such of primary strucmirably simple summary of the field and a stringent conservation series of aphorism-like statements con- ture.” This argues for a truly fundamental cerning diagnosis of human endocrine de- role of glucagon in the organism, but no fects. An interesting concept is “The Pa- such basically adaptive role seems to have tient as a Bioassay” which outlines ways in been established, and at least in part, metwhich particular symptoms can be consid- abolic actions of glucagon are duplicated by ered indicators of pathologic states of par- catecholamines. Of special interest to comparative endoticular hormones. In succeeding sections individual glands or “conditions” (e.g., crinologists is the chapter by Falkmer and carbohydrate metabolism, water metaboVan Noorden on “Ontogeny and Phylogeny lism, and sex differentiation) are taken up for the Glucagon Cell.” These authors have seriatim and each section is preceded by a chosen to review the subject in the context succinct current summary of what is known of the other gastro-entero-hepatic horabout normal function in that area. mones, making their treatment more interAuthors of other This book can serve as an excellent ef- esting and meaningful. ficient reference for students wanting to chapters similarly have taken the trouble to know something about the human or clin- generalize rather than to treat glucagon narical aspects of endocrinology without re- rowly. For example, the chapter by Cahill, course to a full-sized textbook. In this re- Aoki, and Smith, “Glucagon and Amino is actually an excellent gard the book’s price alone can be recom- Acid Metabolism,” review of amino acid metabolism, and the mended. role of glucagon as well as other substances can be brought out most rationally within it. Editing and production of the book are Glucagon I and II: Handbook of Experimental Pharof an unusually high order. It would seem macology, Vol. 66. Edited by P. J. LEFBBVRE. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1983. 535 and 700 that the editing of these two full volumes pp., Illustrations, Author Index, $161 and $233. by P. J. Lefebvre was a labor of love. Despite their high price ($.30 per page, Vol. I; This must be considered the definitive $0.33 per page, Vol. II) these books belong source of information about glucagon at the in your library. Blue Book AND
ERIC
B.
LARSON.
168 0016~6480/85 $1.50 Copyright 0 1985 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
AND
COMPARATIVE
ENDOCRINOLOGY
59, 168-169 (1985)
BOOK REVIEWS Edited by ROBERT METZ Saunders, Philadelphia, 1985. 3% pp., Author Index, $18.95.
of Endocrinology.
present time. The two volumes thoroughly cover all phases of the subject, including the biochemical and biophysical features of “Blue Book of Endocrinology” is a small- the glucagon molecule, the cells that seformat ring-bound book that is intended for crete it, the complex regulation of glucagon use as an aid to physicians who are not nec- secretion, the numerous characterized acessarily endocrinologists in diagnosis of tions of glucagon, and the pharmacology clinical endocrine disorders. However, it is and pathology of glucagon function. certainly useful to the general student of It is interesting to learn that this peptide endocrinology for the quick insight it pro- of 29 amino acid residues is remarkably univides on the field of clinical endocrinology. form in the species from which it has been The initial chapter entitled “Acquisition of purified and sequenced. “No other horClinical Skills in Endocrinology” is an ad- mones that have been studied exhibit such of primary strucmirably simple summary of the field and a stringent conservation series of aphorism-like statements con- ture.” This argues for a truly fundamental cerning diagnosis of human endocrine de- role of glucagon in the organism, but no fects. An interesting concept is “The Pa- such basically adaptive role seems to have tient as a Bioassay” which outlines ways in been established, and at least in part, metwhich particular symptoms can be consid- abolic actions of glucagon are duplicated by ered indicators of pathologic states of par- catecholamines. Of special interest to comparative endoticular hormones. In succeeding sections individual glands or “conditions” (e.g., crinologists is the chapter by Falkmer and carbohydrate metabolism, water metaboVan Noorden on “Ontogeny and Phylogeny lism, and sex differentiation) are taken up for the Glucagon Cell.” These authors have seriatim and each section is preceded by a chosen to review the subject in the context succinct current summary of what is known of the other gastro-entero-hepatic horabout normal function in that area. mones, making their treatment more interAuthors of other This book can serve as an excellent ef- esting and meaningful. ficient reference for students wanting to chapters similarly have taken the trouble to know something about the human or clin- generalize rather than to treat glucagon narical aspects of endocrinology without re- rowly. For example, the chapter by Cahill, course to a full-sized textbook. In this re- Aoki, and Smith, “Glucagon and Amino is actually an excellent gard the book’s price alone can be recom- Acid Metabolism,” review of amino acid metabolism, and the mended. role of glucagon as well as other substances can be brought out most rationally within it. Editing and production of the book are Glucagon I and II: Handbook of Experimental Pharof an unusually high order. It would seem macology, Vol. 66. Edited by P. J. LEFBBVRE. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1983. 535 and 700 that the editing of these two full volumes pp., Illustrations, Author Index, $161 and $233. by P. J. Lefebvre was a labor of love. Despite their high price ($.30 per page, Vol. I; This must be considered the definitive $0.33 per page, Vol. II) these books belong source of information about glucagon at the in your library. Blue Book AND
ERIC
B.
LARSON.
168 0016~6480/85 $1.50 Copyright 0 1985 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.