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Ovarian follicular and corpus luteum function (advances in experimental medicine and biology), Vol. 112
GENERAL
AND
COMPARATIVE
ENDOCRINOLOGY
42, 420-426 (1980)
BOOK REVIEWS Cellular Recognition (Outline Studies in Biology). By M. F. GREAVES. Wiley, New York, 1975. 72 pp., ill., subject index, $3.95.
This paperback in the “Outline Studies in Biology” series is an excellent example of the purpose of these outlines-to be a guide for the advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate student to the research direction of a particular, especially interdisciplinary area of biology. The author has addressed the problem of cellular recognition from the standpoint of the cell surface membrane and its receptors. A historical review of the principles of receptor specificity and a presentation of the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure are followed by a discussion of the role of cyclic nucleotides and calcium ions as second messengers within the cell. Then he discusses the role of receptors in neurotransmitter and hormone action, the immune response, and selective cellular interactions including incompatibility systems in plants, mating types in microorganisms, virus-cell interactions, cell sorting during embryonic development, and neuronal specification. Each area is lucidly presented and points out controversial ideas and the questions yet to be answered. In addition, there is an abundance of references to reviews and primary research articles to find out further details on a particular subject. The diagrams are simple and serve to help the reader visualize the major points. The diversity of topics which the author has successfully brought together with the common theme of ligand-receptor binding and its effects both on the membrane and the cellular response indicates the importance of cellular recognition throughout the biological kingdom. For the comparative endocrinologist the similar mechanisms involved in target cell recognition of peptide
hormones, neurotransmitters, and antigens should provide much food for thought. The one drawback of this book is that it is now 5 years old and in this area much progress has been made in these past 5 years. Yet the basic concepts outlined here still hold although the details may differ. Therefore, the book can still be recommended for use with advanced students and for researchers in other areas to gain an appreciation and overview of the field. LYNN
Ovarian Follicular and Corpus Luteum Function (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology), Vol. 112. Edited by C. P. CHANNING, J. MARSH, AND W. SADLER. Plenum, New York/ London, 1979. xv + 808 pp., ill., subject index, $59.50.
This volume represents proceedings of the “Second Ovarian Workshop,” sponsored by the Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH. In the words of a participant, Irving Rothchild, the purpose of the workshop was “to see where we stand in our understanding of how the activities of the follicle and corpus luteum (CL) are regulated.” A great majority of the research reported was performed on mammals. It is impractical to comment on each of the 83 papers, so what follows are some general comments about the book’s coverage. The workshop is divided into nine sections. Gilbert Greenwald introduces the symposium in Section I. In his interesting essay, he pinpoints some critical research needs in ovarian biology. These include questions about (1) control of primordial follicle growth initiation, (2) dependence of follicles of different stages on gonadotro420
0016-6480/80/110420-07$01.00/O Copyright 0 1980 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
M. RIDDIFORD
Department of Zoology University of Washington Seattle. Washington
BOOK REVIEWS
pins, (3) when estrogen secretion begins during follicular maturation, (4) the role of the very high levels of steroid hormones in follicular fluid, (5) interactions of gonadotropins, steroid hormones, and their receptors in controlling follicular maturation, (6) species differences in ovarian function and regulation, (7) ovarian biology in species with short or long ovarian cycles, (8) biology of the luteal-follicular shift. Unfortunately, most of the papers in this symposium deal only with questions about (5) above. Papers in Sections II and III relate to the role of gonadotropins and steroid hormones in regulating follicular maturation and corpus luteum function and the mechanism of action of these hormones. Oocyte maturation is covered in Section IV, including inhibition of oocyte maturation by intrafollicular substances. Follicular nonsteroidal regulators of ovarian function are discussed in Section V. In Sections VI, VII, and VIII, biology of the corpus luteum, including luteinization, luteolysis, and luteal desensitization, is covered. Finally, Section IX deals with clinical applications in the area of contraceptive development. Each see-. tion includes a helpful discussion by the participating scientists. In the last paper in the book, Irving Rothchild discusses the contributions of the symposium in relation to research needs. This enlightening essay should be read by any scientist interested in ovarian function. He concludes that, although the papers in the book are well done, most do not supply us with guidelines for new research. He goes on to discuss topics that were ignored in the symposium, possibly because they represent a physiological, “whole body” approach and not molecular endocrinology. Rothchild then discusses the “fad” of molecular reproductive endocrinology. Speaking of *‘molecularologists,” he concludes that “the solution to the puzzle about how the ovary is regulated will probably not be solved by them.” He also is
421
“worried that if the trend [molecular reproductive endocrinology] continues the number of whole body physiologists left in the field will fall below a critical mass!” The message is that the scientific approach of molecular endocrinology will not contribute as much as some expect toward our goal of understanding how ovaries work, unless the whole organism is considered. I might add that the comparative biology, including comparative endocrinology, of ovarian function must remain a valuable approach, for a knowledge of the evolutionary history of this organ will help to clarify the extant mammalian systems. In this regard, the next ovarian workshop will take more into account comparative aspects of ovarian function. RICHARD Department
E. JONES
of EnvironmentaL Population and Organismic Biology University of Colorado. Boulder
Central Regulation of the Endocrine System. Edited by KJELL FUXE, TOMAS HSKFELT, AND ROLF LUFT. Plenum, New York/London, 1979. xiii + 555 pp., ill., subject index, $47.50.
This book describes the proceedings of the Nobel Foundation Symposium 42 on Principles of the Central Regulation of the Endocrine System held in Stockholm, Sweden, June 7-9, 1978. There were six sessions consisting of: (1) The peptidergic neuron (the biochemistry, presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms in peptidergic transmission), (2) Transmitter and neuropeptide synaptic mechanisms, (3) Hormonal control of peptidergic neurons, (4) Interactions between hormones and neurotransmitters in the control of peptidergic neurons, (5) Controls of peptidergic neurons in humans, and (6) Reporters’ overviews. There is no doubt that we are currently in the midst of an explosion of interest in the neuropeptides, and this book reflects this interest since most of the 27 papers deal with central neuropeptides. Many of the contributors represent a good
AND
COMPARATIVE
ENDOCRINOLOGY
42, 420-426 (1980)
BOOK REVIEWS Cellular Recognition (Outline Studies in Biology). By M. F. GREAVES. Wiley, New York, 1975. 72 pp., ill., subject index, $3.95.
This paperback in the “Outline Studies in Biology” series is an excellent example of the purpose of these outlines-to be a guide for the advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate student to the research direction of a particular, especially interdisciplinary area of biology. The author has addressed the problem of cellular recognition from the standpoint of the cell surface membrane and its receptors. A historical review of the principles of receptor specificity and a presentation of the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure are followed by a discussion of the role of cyclic nucleotides and calcium ions as second messengers within the cell. Then he discusses the role of receptors in neurotransmitter and hormone action, the immune response, and selective cellular interactions including incompatibility systems in plants, mating types in microorganisms, virus-cell interactions, cell sorting during embryonic development, and neuronal specification. Each area is lucidly presented and points out controversial ideas and the questions yet to be answered. In addition, there is an abundance of references to reviews and primary research articles to find out further details on a particular subject. The diagrams are simple and serve to help the reader visualize the major points. The diversity of topics which the author has successfully brought together with the common theme of ligand-receptor binding and its effects both on the membrane and the cellular response indicates the importance of cellular recognition throughout the biological kingdom. For the comparative endocrinologist the similar mechanisms involved in target cell recognition of peptide
hormones, neurotransmitters, and antigens should provide much food for thought. The one drawback of this book is that it is now 5 years old and in this area much progress has been made in these past 5 years. Yet the basic concepts outlined here still hold although the details may differ. Therefore, the book can still be recommended for use with advanced students and for researchers in other areas to gain an appreciation and overview of the field. LYNN
Ovarian Follicular and Corpus Luteum Function (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology), Vol. 112. Edited by C. P. CHANNING, J. MARSH, AND W. SADLER. Plenum, New York/ London, 1979. xv + 808 pp., ill., subject index, $59.50.
This volume represents proceedings of the “Second Ovarian Workshop,” sponsored by the Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH. In the words of a participant, Irving Rothchild, the purpose of the workshop was “to see where we stand in our understanding of how the activities of the follicle and corpus luteum (CL) are regulated.” A great majority of the research reported was performed on mammals. It is impractical to comment on each of the 83 papers, so what follows are some general comments about the book’s coverage. The workshop is divided into nine sections. Gilbert Greenwald introduces the symposium in Section I. In his interesting essay, he pinpoints some critical research needs in ovarian biology. These include questions about (1) control of primordial follicle growth initiation, (2) dependence of follicles of different stages on gonadotro420
0016-6480/80/110420-07$01.00/O Copyright 0 1980 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
M. RIDDIFORD
Department of Zoology University of Washington Seattle. Washington
BOOK REVIEWS
pins, (3) when estrogen secretion begins during follicular maturation, (4) the role of the very high levels of steroid hormones in follicular fluid, (5) interactions of gonadotropins, steroid hormones, and their receptors in controlling follicular maturation, (6) species differences in ovarian function and regulation, (7) ovarian biology in species with short or long ovarian cycles, (8) biology of the luteal-follicular shift. Unfortunately, most of the papers in this symposium deal only with questions about (5) above. Papers in Sections II and III relate to the role of gonadotropins and steroid hormones in regulating follicular maturation and corpus luteum function and the mechanism of action of these hormones. Oocyte maturation is covered in Section IV, including inhibition of oocyte maturation by intrafollicular substances. Follicular nonsteroidal regulators of ovarian function are discussed in Section V. In Sections VI, VII, and VIII, biology of the corpus luteum, including luteinization, luteolysis, and luteal desensitization, is covered. Finally, Section IX deals with clinical applications in the area of contraceptive development. Each see-. tion includes a helpful discussion by the participating scientists. In the last paper in the book, Irving Rothchild discusses the contributions of the symposium in relation to research needs. This enlightening essay should be read by any scientist interested in ovarian function. He concludes that, although the papers in the book are well done, most do not supply us with guidelines for new research. He goes on to discuss topics that were ignored in the symposium, possibly because they represent a physiological, “whole body” approach and not molecular endocrinology. Rothchild then discusses the “fad” of molecular reproductive endocrinology. Speaking of *‘molecularologists,” he concludes that “the solution to the puzzle about how the ovary is regulated will probably not be solved by them.” He also is
421
“worried that if the trend [molecular reproductive endocrinology] continues the number of whole body physiologists left in the field will fall below a critical mass!” The message is that the scientific approach of molecular endocrinology will not contribute as much as some expect toward our goal of understanding how ovaries work, unless the whole organism is considered. I might add that the comparative biology, including comparative endocrinology, of ovarian function must remain a valuable approach, for a knowledge of the evolutionary history of this organ will help to clarify the extant mammalian systems. In this regard, the next ovarian workshop will take more into account comparative aspects of ovarian function. RICHARD Department
E. JONES
of EnvironmentaL Population and Organismic Biology University of Colorado. Boulder
Central Regulation of the Endocrine System. Edited by KJELL FUXE, TOMAS HSKFELT, AND ROLF LUFT. Plenum, New York/London, 1979. xiii + 555 pp., ill., subject index, $47.50.
This book describes the proceedings of the Nobel Foundation Symposium 42 on Principles of the Central Regulation of the Endocrine System held in Stockholm, Sweden, June 7-9, 1978. There were six sessions consisting of: (1) The peptidergic neuron (the biochemistry, presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms in peptidergic transmission), (2) Transmitter and neuropeptide synaptic mechanisms, (3) Hormonal control of peptidergic neurons, (4) Interactions between hormones and neurotransmitters in the control of peptidergic neurons, (5) Controls of peptidergic neurons in humans, and (6) Reporters’ overviews. There is no doubt that we are currently in the midst of an explosion of interest in the neuropeptides, and this book reflects this interest since most of the 27 papers deal with central neuropeptides. Many of the contributors represent a good