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Principles and techniques of electron microscopy, vol. 7. Biological applications
129
BOOK REVIEWS Calorimetric and Fluorimetric Analysis of Steroids. By J. Academic Press, New York, 1976. xii + 274 pp., $21.50.
BARTOS AND M. PSEZ.
This is number 11 in the series of monographs edited by Belcher and Anderson on the Analysis of Organic Materials. This volume is aimed at the pharmacist, biochemist, and clinical chemist who is not specialized in steroids but who occasionally needs a method of estimation or who wishes to acquire a background of knowledge in this field. Thus a rigorous selection was made from the thousands of papers dealing with the characterization and determination of natural and synthetic steroids. The rules of the selection were that only methods based on the chemical reactions performed in solution and yielding a color or fluorescence or exceptionaliy strong absorption in the near-UV are included. Qualitative tests are quoted only when quantitative tests can be derived from them. Even within these parameters, although all ofthe calorimetric and fluorimetric methods which have aroused interest are believed by the authors to have been included, it is still not claimed to be exhaustive. When procedures are detailed they have been tested subsequent to their original publication and found to be satisfactory. A short chapter on nomenclature is included followed by chapters on functional group analysis, halochromism, and halofluorism. With these as introduction, the remainder of the book divides the steroids into ten sections: Sterols and Vitamin D, Bile Acids, Estrogens, Gestogens, Androgens, Corticosteroids, Contraceptive Progestogens, Cardiac Glycosides, Steroid Saponins and Sapogenins and Steroid Alkaloids. Each chapter opens with an introduction defining its subject, a section on general reactions of the group and then specific reactions of selected representatives of the group. and closes with a substantial bibliography. The book contains an author and subject index. Within the limits set by the authors. this volume contains a wealth of information and this reviewer feels they have met the objectives set. BILL
ELPERN,
9 Surrey Way, White Plains. New York 10607
Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy, Vol. 7. Biological Applications. Edited by M. A. HAYAT. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1977.xix + 383 pp. $27.50. This is the seventh volume of Hayat’s muItivoIume series on the principles and techniques employed for studying biological specimens with the aid of an electron microscope (EM). It has been developed over the years through the joint effort of 10distinguished author-scientists. It consists of 9 chapters, including 153 well-reproduced electron micrographs and illustrations, 7 tables, and some 665 up-to-date literature references. The basic approach and format in this volume are similar to those in the previous six volumes. Complete author and subject indexes are included at the end of the book. The first chapter by Isaacson is concerned with the radiation damage of specimens in the EM. It discusses briefly the electron scattering process related to potential damage, the experimental measurements of radiation damage relating to EM, the damage mechanisms, and the proposed techniques to reduce radiation damage. It thus shows electron microscopists the need to qu~titate carefully their experimental data and methods with regard to radiation damage. The second chapter by Nermut describes one of the most successful techniques-freezedrying for preserving the native state of biological structures for EM. Both theoretical and
130
BOOK REVIEWS
practical aspects of the technique and its biological applications in the study of macromolecules, viruses, and subcellular fractions are reviewed and discussed. In Chapter 3, Peters introduces and describes an interesting technique-equidensite integration analysis for image reconstruction of electron micrographs. By this technique, defined contrast filtration is possible by employing a photographic copying process using equidensite negatives to control the integration of periodic structures as well as producing an average image (equidensite rotation method). By means of such copying, a structural correlation of the contrast filtered image to the original is carried out, thus making possible the reconstruction of the image analogous to optical filtration. This chapter is therefore useful for a comprehensive study for applications. Chapter 4 by Ruzicka considers G-handing of chromosomes. G-banding involves procedures carried out on chromosome preparations and subsequent staining with Giemsa (Gbanding). It enables chromosomes (including those of the human C-, D-, F-, and G-group chromosomes) to be differentiated. Methods developed by the author and by others are critically described and compared. Observations on the ultrastructure of chromosomes after various specific treatments are comprehensively discussed and illustrated. In Chapter 5, Geuskens discusses two methods of autoradiographic localization of DNA in nonmetabolic conditions. The tirst method deals with the localization of double-stranded DNA by [3H]actinomycin D binding, while the second method is concerned with the detection of specific repetitive DNA sequences by in situ molecular hybridization. The former by combining with autoradiography is very useful for detecting small amounts of doublestranded DNA at the ultrastructural level, while the latter performed at the EM level is still in its infancy and needs to be further developed for future applications. The optical analysis of the micrograph for structural detail and its optical reconstruction with that detail enhanced are demonstrated by Gibbs and Rowe in Chapter 6. While there have been achievements in the use of complex filters to modify phase as well as amplitude to enable all types of spatial filtering to be performed on an analog basis, much further research is required in this aspect before it becomes an economic and practical possibility in the ordinary laboratory. It is anticipated that high-quality, high-resolution reconstructed images can be produced in a modern optical diffractometer in the near future. Chapter 7 by Gvosdover and Zel’dovich deals with the physical principles of the mirror electron microscope (MEM). The MEM is an instrument for investigating topographical inhomogeneities, potential distributions, and magnetic structures on the surface of bulk specimens. The materials covered in this chapter include a brief description of the MEM design and its modes of operation; a detailed treatment of the classical theory of image contrast formation; a display of the experimental results obtained in the shadow projection imaging mode of the MEM; a discussion of the theoretical and experimental results on the measurements of microfields by the MEM; the quantum effects in the MEM; and the applications of the MEM. In Chapter 8, Burkholder comments on the methods of collection and preparation of metaphase cells, preparation of chromosomes, G-banding and C-banding of chromosomes, and chromosome staining for EM. A particular interest has been placed on the study of human and other mammalian chromosomes. The last chapter by Ellison and Jones reviews some neurobiological applications of equidensitometry. Equidensitometry is the study of lines and areas of equal tonal density within an image. This method has been successfully used in the study of interferograms and spectrograms, and in the fields of astrophysics, illumination engineering, hydrology, photography, and radiation physics. However, its biological applications are still under development and require further work. GEORGE
W. C. HUNG, Woodson -Tenent American
Biomedical
Laboratories, Corporation,
Hill Top Testing Services, Memphis, Tennessee 38101
BOOK REVIEWS Calorimetric and Fluorimetric Analysis of Steroids. By J. Academic Press, New York, 1976. xii + 274 pp., $21.50.
BARTOS AND M. PSEZ.
This is number 11 in the series of monographs edited by Belcher and Anderson on the Analysis of Organic Materials. This volume is aimed at the pharmacist, biochemist, and clinical chemist who is not specialized in steroids but who occasionally needs a method of estimation or who wishes to acquire a background of knowledge in this field. Thus a rigorous selection was made from the thousands of papers dealing with the characterization and determination of natural and synthetic steroids. The rules of the selection were that only methods based on the chemical reactions performed in solution and yielding a color or fluorescence or exceptionaliy strong absorption in the near-UV are included. Qualitative tests are quoted only when quantitative tests can be derived from them. Even within these parameters, although all ofthe calorimetric and fluorimetric methods which have aroused interest are believed by the authors to have been included, it is still not claimed to be exhaustive. When procedures are detailed they have been tested subsequent to their original publication and found to be satisfactory. A short chapter on nomenclature is included followed by chapters on functional group analysis, halochromism, and halofluorism. With these as introduction, the remainder of the book divides the steroids into ten sections: Sterols and Vitamin D, Bile Acids, Estrogens, Gestogens, Androgens, Corticosteroids, Contraceptive Progestogens, Cardiac Glycosides, Steroid Saponins and Sapogenins and Steroid Alkaloids. Each chapter opens with an introduction defining its subject, a section on general reactions of the group and then specific reactions of selected representatives of the group. and closes with a substantial bibliography. The book contains an author and subject index. Within the limits set by the authors. this volume contains a wealth of information and this reviewer feels they have met the objectives set. BILL
ELPERN,
9 Surrey Way, White Plains. New York 10607
Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy, Vol. 7. Biological Applications. Edited by M. A. HAYAT. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1977.xix + 383 pp. $27.50. This is the seventh volume of Hayat’s muItivoIume series on the principles and techniques employed for studying biological specimens with the aid of an electron microscope (EM). It has been developed over the years through the joint effort of 10distinguished author-scientists. It consists of 9 chapters, including 153 well-reproduced electron micrographs and illustrations, 7 tables, and some 665 up-to-date literature references. The basic approach and format in this volume are similar to those in the previous six volumes. Complete author and subject indexes are included at the end of the book. The first chapter by Isaacson is concerned with the radiation damage of specimens in the EM. It discusses briefly the electron scattering process related to potential damage, the experimental measurements of radiation damage relating to EM, the damage mechanisms, and the proposed techniques to reduce radiation damage. It thus shows electron microscopists the need to qu~titate carefully their experimental data and methods with regard to radiation damage. The second chapter by Nermut describes one of the most successful techniques-freezedrying for preserving the native state of biological structures for EM. Both theoretical and
130
BOOK REVIEWS
practical aspects of the technique and its biological applications in the study of macromolecules, viruses, and subcellular fractions are reviewed and discussed. In Chapter 3, Peters introduces and describes an interesting technique-equidensite integration analysis for image reconstruction of electron micrographs. By this technique, defined contrast filtration is possible by employing a photographic copying process using equidensite negatives to control the integration of periodic structures as well as producing an average image (equidensite rotation method). By means of such copying, a structural correlation of the contrast filtered image to the original is carried out, thus making possible the reconstruction of the image analogous to optical filtration. This chapter is therefore useful for a comprehensive study for applications. Chapter 4 by Ruzicka considers G-handing of chromosomes. G-banding involves procedures carried out on chromosome preparations and subsequent staining with Giemsa (Gbanding). It enables chromosomes (including those of the human C-, D-, F-, and G-group chromosomes) to be differentiated. Methods developed by the author and by others are critically described and compared. Observations on the ultrastructure of chromosomes after various specific treatments are comprehensively discussed and illustrated. In Chapter 5, Geuskens discusses two methods of autoradiographic localization of DNA in nonmetabolic conditions. The tirst method deals with the localization of double-stranded DNA by [3H]actinomycin D binding, while the second method is concerned with the detection of specific repetitive DNA sequences by in situ molecular hybridization. The former by combining with autoradiography is very useful for detecting small amounts of doublestranded DNA at the ultrastructural level, while the latter performed at the EM level is still in its infancy and needs to be further developed for future applications. The optical analysis of the micrograph for structural detail and its optical reconstruction with that detail enhanced are demonstrated by Gibbs and Rowe in Chapter 6. While there have been achievements in the use of complex filters to modify phase as well as amplitude to enable all types of spatial filtering to be performed on an analog basis, much further research is required in this aspect before it becomes an economic and practical possibility in the ordinary laboratory. It is anticipated that high-quality, high-resolution reconstructed images can be produced in a modern optical diffractometer in the near future. Chapter 7 by Gvosdover and Zel’dovich deals with the physical principles of the mirror electron microscope (MEM). The MEM is an instrument for investigating topographical inhomogeneities, potential distributions, and magnetic structures on the surface of bulk specimens. The materials covered in this chapter include a brief description of the MEM design and its modes of operation; a detailed treatment of the classical theory of image contrast formation; a display of the experimental results obtained in the shadow projection imaging mode of the MEM; a discussion of the theoretical and experimental results on the measurements of microfields by the MEM; the quantum effects in the MEM; and the applications of the MEM. In Chapter 8, Burkholder comments on the methods of collection and preparation of metaphase cells, preparation of chromosomes, G-banding and C-banding of chromosomes, and chromosome staining for EM. A particular interest has been placed on the study of human and other mammalian chromosomes. The last chapter by Ellison and Jones reviews some neurobiological applications of equidensitometry. Equidensitometry is the study of lines and areas of equal tonal density within an image. This method has been successfully used in the study of interferograms and spectrograms, and in the fields of astrophysics, illumination engineering, hydrology, photography, and radiation physics. However, its biological applications are still under development and require further work. GEORGE
W. C. HUNG, Woodson -Tenent American
Biomedical
Laboratories, Corporation,
Hill Top Testing Services, Memphis, Tennessee 38101