Metabolism of the Nervous System Edited by Derek Richter (review)

Metabolism ofthe Nervous System. Edited byDerek Richter. New York: Pergamon Press, 1957. Pp. xiv-l-599. $16.00. The solution ofany problem in biological research depends upon a variety ofrelated techniques or disciplines which may often extend into the area ofthe physical sciences. Much of our knowledge about the relationship of function to metabolism in skeletal muscle resulted from such combined effort. In no other specialized area ofbiology, however , is there a greater need for such an integrated approach than in the field of the nervous system, nor has any other area of physiological chemistry experienced so concentrated an effort along such lines as has neurochemistry. This volume is one of the best and most comprehensive attempts to deal with the problems ofneurochemistry from a multidisciplinary point ofview, by the most active investigators in the area from the United States and Europe. It contains the "Proceedings of the Second International Neurochemical Symposium" held in Aarhus, Denmark, during the summer of 1956. The extremely diverse topics deal with such matters as morphology and molecular structure; cytochemistry; neural metabolism at various levels oforganization, all the way from the brain in vivo to isolated cytoplasmic constituents; metabolism of the individual structural components, such as proteins and lipids; and, finally, a consideration ofthe biochemical and functional problems ofthe neurohumoral amines: acetylcholine, adrenalin, serotonin, and histamine. Each of these general topics is preceded by a review and followed by several original contributions. Some especially good reviews are "Electron Microscopy of Nervous Tissue" by H. Fernández-Moran, "CytochemistryofNeurones and Neuroglia" byA. Pope andH. H. Hess, "LipidMetabolism " by R.J. Rossiter, and "Protein Metabolism" by H.Waelsch. An interesting presentation by F. Lipman on the mechanism ofATP-linked enzymatic group activation and transfer involves such matters as peptide formation from amino acids and the transfer of sulfur to organic constituents. The mechanism offatty acid synthesis in the brain has been ingeniously developed and described by F. Lynen. J. Folch-Pi et al. discuss the role of acidic lipids in cationic binding and exchange within neural tissue. A number of contributions deal with ultramicrochemical analyses ofindividual neurons and neuroglia by Engström, Lowry, and Hydén. Besides being invaluable as a comprehensive source for investigators in the field of neurochemistry, the book can be recommended to all biologists interested in the basic problems ofneural metabolism and function. There is, perhaps, no more useful textbook for the student or established investigator in neurochemistry. It would be ofconsiderable use to biochemists in general who may be interested in applying certain biophysical techniques (such as X-ray absorption, X-ray microscopy, and those employed in ultramicrochemical analysis) to tissues other than nerve and brain. L. G. Abood University ofIllinois College ofMedicine 377 ...