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Microchemical analysis of nervous tissue
been published. extracting brain
Other groups reported stmtlar success in of other species or human CSF: a larger
peptide with similar properties stein and co-worker
was obtained
from the pitultar)
by A. Gold-
gland. (These dis-
coveries link the effects of opiates with the analgesia
produced by electrical stimulation of certain regions of the brain stem and may well be at the basis of acupuncture analgesia. all three forms of attenuation of pain being sensttive to naloxone.) A large scctmn of the book deals with the study of opiate receptors: thts has been cxtcnded to isolated clones of ncuroblastoma,glioma hydrids. Opposing responses obtained in cells pre-incubated with morphine and untreated cells. suggest that a model of morphine tolerance could now he obtained in riiro: these cells
Peripheral Arterial Chemoreceptors,
M. J. Prl~vss
undoubtedly provide a simple system for the study of the effect of opiates on prostaglandins and cyclic AMP. Collier’s group described a new phenomenon they call quasiabstiticncc syndrome. It is produced by giving naloxone to animals which have never been in contact with an opiate but were given a single injection of an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase. Such results reinforce the view held by Collier that cyclic AMP plays a central role in all actions of opiates. These examples must suffice to indicate that the conference report makes most stimulating reading for anybody wanting to learn about recent progress in the understanding of the actions of opiates. MARTHEVOGT
(Ed.) Cambridge
THE FtRs’r full symposium on arterial chemoreceptors was held in Oxford in July 1966. Its proceedings were published in the now well-known book edited by R. W. Torrance. At the time of that symposium it was generally accepted on the basis of De Castro’s observations that the carotid nerve consisted essentially of sensory tibres distributed to the carotid sinus and the carotid glomus. The question of any possible efferent fibres in it had not come up seriously and acetylcholine appeared to be an excellent candidate as a transmitter at chemoreceptors. Since then a lot has happened. In fact, in the seven years following this symposium, De Castro’s observations had been contested and subsequently re-established (partly). the existence of inhibitory efferent fibres to the glomus running in the IXth nerve had been proposed and subsequently doubted and acetylcholine as a transmitter no longer challenged. appeared as attractive as before and techniques for measuring the local PO, had been introduced. Therefore, by 1973, the time was ripe for a second symposium. This was held in July at Bristol and was orgdnised by Dr. M. J. Purves who has edited the proceedings in “Periphrrul Artaid
University
Press (1975). 492 pp., f14.00
this book, notably a paper by Eyzaguirre and Gallego based on De Castro’s original slides which not only reveals De Castro’s technical mastery of the subject but it succeeds in bringing about a reconciliation of divergent views arising from recent observations on degeneration of fibres and terminals following intracranial section of the IXth nerve. There are five papers relating to chemoreceptors and the circulation. These will interest cardiovascular physiologists and clinicians. On the other hand, there is practically nothing in the book, including the well-edited discussion, relating to the respiratory reflex effects. The Respiratory group will therefore be disappointed. On the whole, the papers are good and well-illustrated and need to be seen not only by those working in the field but also by those working in related fields e.g. neurophysiologists who, by and large, have not been specially interested in the arterial chemoreceptors. Their attention is particularly invited to the papers in which the mechanism of stimulation of chemoreceptors is considered, because they will find in this book highly original suggestions on how sensory receptors may work.
(‘h~morc~1~eptor.s”.
There
is a considerable
Microchemical
amount
of new information
A. S. PAINTAL
m
Analysis of Nervous Tissue, N. N. OSBORNE. Pergamon
THIS book should prove invaluable to anybody who wants to separate or analyze almost any substance in the nervous system. Apart from a Chapter entitled ‘Choice of Biological Material for Microanalysis’ which suggests somebody with a method looking for a problem, hut is not what the chapter is about. the book consists of a chapter concerning instruments and glassware, one on micro-biochemical procedures. another on general techniques and other extensive chapters on the determination of amines and amino acids, phospholipids and electrophoresis of proteins. Each chapter is prefaced with an introduction in which the author gives a brief account of the relevant background material before launching into the theoretical and practical considerations of the procedures to be discussed. This is followed by a section on the apparatus and reagents which are required, one on the methodology and, finally. examples of the application of the procedure. By means
Press (1974). 224 pp., G3.00.
of 125 Figures and 40 Tables. the book and the procedures described are well illustrated. An example of the help which this book could bc to all laboratory workers is the chapter on electrophoresis. Sufficient detail is given, e.g. concentrations of buffers, dyes, gels, voltages to use, staining and destaining methods, how to prepare gels, store gels etc., that one could start the day with a tissue homogenate and end it with a series of microgels showing the proteins in the extract without even having had to consult another book or paper. The saving in expensive manhours that this allows would make the book pay for itself within a short time. The book, which contains an author index but, unfortunately, not a subject index, is recommended for all who need to analyze cell constituents, not only for those who study the nervous system. I. W. CHUBB
Other groups reported stmtlar success in of other species or human CSF: a larger
peptide with similar properties stein and co-worker
was obtained
from the pitultar)
by A. Gold-
gland. (These dis-
coveries link the effects of opiates with the analgesia
produced by electrical stimulation of certain regions of the brain stem and may well be at the basis of acupuncture analgesia. all three forms of attenuation of pain being sensttive to naloxone.) A large scctmn of the book deals with the study of opiate receptors: thts has been cxtcnded to isolated clones of ncuroblastoma,glioma hydrids. Opposing responses obtained in cells pre-incubated with morphine and untreated cells. suggest that a model of morphine tolerance could now he obtained in riiro: these cells
Peripheral Arterial Chemoreceptors,
M. J. Prl~vss
undoubtedly provide a simple system for the study of the effect of opiates on prostaglandins and cyclic AMP. Collier’s group described a new phenomenon they call quasiabstiticncc syndrome. It is produced by giving naloxone to animals which have never been in contact with an opiate but were given a single injection of an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase. Such results reinforce the view held by Collier that cyclic AMP plays a central role in all actions of opiates. These examples must suffice to indicate that the conference report makes most stimulating reading for anybody wanting to learn about recent progress in the understanding of the actions of opiates. MARTHEVOGT
(Ed.) Cambridge
THE FtRs’r full symposium on arterial chemoreceptors was held in Oxford in July 1966. Its proceedings were published in the now well-known book edited by R. W. Torrance. At the time of that symposium it was generally accepted on the basis of De Castro’s observations that the carotid nerve consisted essentially of sensory tibres distributed to the carotid sinus and the carotid glomus. The question of any possible efferent fibres in it had not come up seriously and acetylcholine appeared to be an excellent candidate as a transmitter at chemoreceptors. Since then a lot has happened. In fact, in the seven years following this symposium, De Castro’s observations had been contested and subsequently re-established (partly). the existence of inhibitory efferent fibres to the glomus running in the IXth nerve had been proposed and subsequently doubted and acetylcholine as a transmitter no longer challenged. appeared as attractive as before and techniques for measuring the local PO, had been introduced. Therefore, by 1973, the time was ripe for a second symposium. This was held in July at Bristol and was orgdnised by Dr. M. J. Purves who has edited the proceedings in “Periphrrul Artaid
University
Press (1975). 492 pp., f14.00
this book, notably a paper by Eyzaguirre and Gallego based on De Castro’s original slides which not only reveals De Castro’s technical mastery of the subject but it succeeds in bringing about a reconciliation of divergent views arising from recent observations on degeneration of fibres and terminals following intracranial section of the IXth nerve. There are five papers relating to chemoreceptors and the circulation. These will interest cardiovascular physiologists and clinicians. On the other hand, there is practically nothing in the book, including the well-edited discussion, relating to the respiratory reflex effects. The Respiratory group will therefore be disappointed. On the whole, the papers are good and well-illustrated and need to be seen not only by those working in the field but also by those working in related fields e.g. neurophysiologists who, by and large, have not been specially interested in the arterial chemoreceptors. Their attention is particularly invited to the papers in which the mechanism of stimulation of chemoreceptors is considered, because they will find in this book highly original suggestions on how sensory receptors may work.
(‘h~morc~1~eptor.s”.
There
is a considerable
Microchemical
amount
of new information
A. S. PAINTAL
m
Analysis of Nervous Tissue, N. N. OSBORNE. Pergamon
THIS book should prove invaluable to anybody who wants to separate or analyze almost any substance in the nervous system. Apart from a Chapter entitled ‘Choice of Biological Material for Microanalysis’ which suggests somebody with a method looking for a problem, hut is not what the chapter is about. the book consists of a chapter concerning instruments and glassware, one on micro-biochemical procedures. another on general techniques and other extensive chapters on the determination of amines and amino acids, phospholipids and electrophoresis of proteins. Each chapter is prefaced with an introduction in which the author gives a brief account of the relevant background material before launching into the theoretical and practical considerations of the procedures to be discussed. This is followed by a section on the apparatus and reagents which are required, one on the methodology and, finally. examples of the application of the procedure. By means
Press (1974). 224 pp., G3.00.
of 125 Figures and 40 Tables. the book and the procedures described are well illustrated. An example of the help which this book could bc to all laboratory workers is the chapter on electrophoresis. Sufficient detail is given, e.g. concentrations of buffers, dyes, gels, voltages to use, staining and destaining methods, how to prepare gels, store gels etc., that one could start the day with a tissue homogenate and end it with a series of microgels showing the proteins in the extract without even having had to consult another book or paper. The saving in expensive manhours that this allows would make the book pay for itself within a short time. The book, which contains an author index but, unfortunately, not a subject index, is recommended for all who need to analyze cell constituents, not only for those who study the nervous system. I. W. CHUBB