Thyroid hormone metabolism. Regulation and clinical implications

Thyroid hormone metabolism. Regulation and clinical implications

GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 85, 165-166 (1992) BOOK REVIEWS Thyroid Hormone Metabolism. Regulation and Clinical Implications. Edited b...

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GENERAL

AND

COMPARATIVE

ENDOCRINOLOGY

85,

165-166 (1992)

BOOK REVIEWS Thyroid Hormone Metabolism. Regulation and Clinical Implications. Edited by SING-YUNG Wu. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Boston, 1991. 335 pp., plus index. $74.95.

The chapters that compose this book derive from a 1989 symposium entitled “Regulation of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism.” Most of the chapters directly or indirectly concern deiodination of thyroxine (T4) to triiodo-thyronine (T3). A wealth of detail concerning this process has been assembled, including the multiplicity of deiodinases, their properties, and influences on their action (by hormones, drugs, inanition, disease states, etc.). Interestingly in this age of rapid definition of protein structure, the molecule of no deiodinase has yet been defined. There are several chapters that concern mathematical modeling of thyroid hormone metabolism and extracellular and intracellular distribution, and one chapter concerns neuroendocrine influences on thyroid hormone metabolism. The relatively narrow area of attention of this book makes it most appropriate for specialists. Actions and other physiological features of thyroid hormones are not considered. There is almost no attention given to species other than rat and man, even though some of the earliest work (Tata) with T4-T3 metabolism and action was on amphibian tissues. Introduction to Endocrine Investigation 1991. Techniques and Concepts. The Endocrine Society, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814. 137 pp. $35.00.

The Endocrine Society has sponsored frequent workshops in recent years, planned to update practicing endocrinologists in newer approaches to their field. This book is a syllabus which accompanies one such workshop and it is directed toward labora-

tory practices. It consists of 16 “lessons,” each written by the lecturer for that part of the workshop. Although the lectures and demonstrations that composed the workshop are not available to the readers of the syllabus, it is still a valuable resource to any endocrinologist who wishes to extend his studies into the molecular area, to understand receptorology , or to isolate peptides. The first six lessons deal with molecular subjects, opened by a chapter on nucleic acid structure and cloning. There follow chapters on DNA and RNA quantitation, sequence analysis, and use of transgenic animals (mice). Receptorology techniques take up a number of lessons, and individual chapters deal with other topics, including use of pituitary cell cultures. Each chapter is clearly and explicatively written in textbook style, and many are followed by review questions. Short of engaging in the actual workshop, endocrinologists will find this syllabus useful in understanding the background, the application, and the interpretation of now popular current laboratory procedures in their field. Vertebrate Endocrinology: Fundamentals and Biomedical Implications. Vol. 4, Parts A and B. Reproduction. Edited by P. K. T. PANG AND M. P. SCHREIBMAN. Academic Press, San Diego, 1991. 3% and 350 pp., separate index for each part. $159 each part.

The stated goal of the series, of which this is the fourth volume, is to review vertebrate endocrinology and to show its meaning or mutual impact in relation to “biomedical” endocrinology. The attempt to show such impact is made at the end of each chapter in a section entitled “Biomedical Implications.” In part A there are seven chapters that deal with oocyte maturation, vitellogenesis, ovulation, gestation, spermatogen165 001~6480/92 $1.50 Copyright All rit&ts

0 1992 by Academic Press, Inc. of reproduction in any form reserved.