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Studies of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
215
Advances in Neurochemistry, Vol. 1, b y B. W . A g r a n o f f a n d M . H . A p r i s o n ( E d s . ) , x i v + 309 p a g e s , 45 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , 42 t a b l e s , P l e n u m P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , L o n d o n , 1975, U S $ 29.40. Just how much is the brain analogous to muscle? It might be thought that a contraction was the best model for synaptic release or that the uterine response to prostaglandins was relevant to brain cyclic nucleotide levels. These are a few of the provocative ideas which one is stimulated to consider in response to various chapters in this new collection. For example: Soil Berl discusses in lucid fashion the similarities of brain actin, myosin, Ca ATPase and viscosity changes to their muscle counterparts. Certainly, further interesting work will be forthcoming in this area. Those not familiar with the general topic will be well introduced through this chapter. Frank Margolis recounts the interesting story of the specialised function of olfaction with a unique marker protein to this area and a dipeptide, carnosine. Carnosine is also found in muscle. But, in the main, like Berl, Margolis tells a well-knit story, drawing upon fabrics from many fields of investigation. Leonhard Wolfe has detailed the myriad of effects which have been claimed for the prostaglandins in the nervous system. Since many actions are mediated through cyclic A M P and GMP, it is not surprising that much further basic work has yet to be done before the picture is clarified. However, there are a few lucid areas such as the work of Feldberg on the genesis of fever. Theodore Sourkes and Samarthji Lal. The Parkinsonian side-effects of antipsychotic drugs are well-known, and since apomorphine is chemically similar to dopamine, this useful chapter pursues the similarities and differences through to the clinical level, while maintaining a critical eye towards the data. Patrick Carnegie and Peter Dunkley on myelin basic proteins. It is quite clear that the Schwann cell has as many differences as similarities to the oligodendrocyte. Part of the biochemical basis for this difference lies in the composition of the basic proteins which constitute such a large proportion of the myelin sheath. The comparative data are clearly set out in this section. Norman Radin. Although the excitement with clinical-chemical correlation of the sphingolipidoses may have cooled slightly, Radin carefully shows how further systematic study of the enzymes which remove a single glucose or galactose molecule from a lipid can give useful information. Blake Moore was, of course, an important prime mover for brain-specific proteins. Much of the information has been previously reviewed by the author, although some useful new facts are given for clonal cell lines from brain. In summary, the book should be of interest to the clinician with an eclectic mind, the biochemist who would broaden his horizons and the neurobiologist for the spice of interdisciplinary outlook. E. J. Thompson
Studies of the Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland, b y P e t e r M . D a n i e l a n d M a r j o r i e M . L. P r i c h a r d , x ÷ 216 p a g e s , 104 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , A l d e n P r e s s , O x f o r d , 1975, £ 3.00. This is a scholarly and well-illustrated monograph, published first as a supplement to the Acta Endocrinologica, now as a remarkably inexpensive paper-back by the Alden Press of Oxford. It embodies the results of the personal research of the two authors over a 25-year period, bringing together much of their work which has been previously published in a series of scientific papers. The successive chapters deal with nomenclature, the anatomy of the hypothalamus and pituitary, theories of hypothalamic control and pituitary secretion, local effects of pituitary stalk secretion and of hypophysectomy in man and animals, and the remote effects of thes operations, and there are two valuable technical appendices. There is a short but useful bibliography and a detailed index. Everyone interested in hypothalamic and pituitary function will want to consult and possess this volume. The quality of the paper and production and of the illustrations is uniformly excellent and the monograph pays testimony to many years of patient and fruitful endeavour. I have only one question: in this day and age, how on earth could they produce a volume of 200 pages of this quality at the price? John N. Walton
Advances in Neurochemistry, Vol. 1, b y B. W . A g r a n o f f a n d M . H . A p r i s o n ( E d s . ) , x i v + 309 p a g e s , 45 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , 42 t a b l e s , P l e n u m P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , L o n d o n , 1975, U S $ 29.40. Just how much is the brain analogous to muscle? It might be thought that a contraction was the best model for synaptic release or that the uterine response to prostaglandins was relevant to brain cyclic nucleotide levels. These are a few of the provocative ideas which one is stimulated to consider in response to various chapters in this new collection. For example: Soil Berl discusses in lucid fashion the similarities of brain actin, myosin, Ca ATPase and viscosity changes to their muscle counterparts. Certainly, further interesting work will be forthcoming in this area. Those not familiar with the general topic will be well introduced through this chapter. Frank Margolis recounts the interesting story of the specialised function of olfaction with a unique marker protein to this area and a dipeptide, carnosine. Carnosine is also found in muscle. But, in the main, like Berl, Margolis tells a well-knit story, drawing upon fabrics from many fields of investigation. Leonhard Wolfe has detailed the myriad of effects which have been claimed for the prostaglandins in the nervous system. Since many actions are mediated through cyclic A M P and GMP, it is not surprising that much further basic work has yet to be done before the picture is clarified. However, there are a few lucid areas such as the work of Feldberg on the genesis of fever. Theodore Sourkes and Samarthji Lal. The Parkinsonian side-effects of antipsychotic drugs are well-known, and since apomorphine is chemically similar to dopamine, this useful chapter pursues the similarities and differences through to the clinical level, while maintaining a critical eye towards the data. Patrick Carnegie and Peter Dunkley on myelin basic proteins. It is quite clear that the Schwann cell has as many differences as similarities to the oligodendrocyte. Part of the biochemical basis for this difference lies in the composition of the basic proteins which constitute such a large proportion of the myelin sheath. The comparative data are clearly set out in this section. Norman Radin. Although the excitement with clinical-chemical correlation of the sphingolipidoses may have cooled slightly, Radin carefully shows how further systematic study of the enzymes which remove a single glucose or galactose molecule from a lipid can give useful information. Blake Moore was, of course, an important prime mover for brain-specific proteins. Much of the information has been previously reviewed by the author, although some useful new facts are given for clonal cell lines from brain. In summary, the book should be of interest to the clinician with an eclectic mind, the biochemist who would broaden his horizons and the neurobiologist for the spice of interdisciplinary outlook. E. J. Thompson
Studies of the Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland, b y P e t e r M . D a n i e l a n d M a r j o r i e M . L. P r i c h a r d , x ÷ 216 p a g e s , 104 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , A l d e n P r e s s , O x f o r d , 1975, £ 3.00. This is a scholarly and well-illustrated monograph, published first as a supplement to the Acta Endocrinologica, now as a remarkably inexpensive paper-back by the Alden Press of Oxford. It embodies the results of the personal research of the two authors over a 25-year period, bringing together much of their work which has been previously published in a series of scientific papers. The successive chapters deal with nomenclature, the anatomy of the hypothalamus and pituitary, theories of hypothalamic control and pituitary secretion, local effects of pituitary stalk secretion and of hypophysectomy in man and animals, and the remote effects of thes operations, and there are two valuable technical appendices. There is a short but useful bibliography and a detailed index. Everyone interested in hypothalamic and pituitary function will want to consult and possess this volume. The quality of the paper and production and of the illustrations is uniformly excellent and the monograph pays testimony to many years of patient and fruitful endeavour. I have only one question: in this day and age, how on earth could they produce a volume of 200 pages of this quality at the price? John N. Walton