Book Reu iews logically, then, the Introduction of the book is followed by two basically morphological papers describing The Anatomy of the Ilypothalamiis and Pituitary Gland (by P. 15’. Daniel) and Limbic and Other Seural Pathways that, Regulate Endocrine Function (by J. DeGroot). These and the next article (Stereotaxic TechThis series of monographs was conceived by the late Fred W. niques and the Prodiiction of Lerions by V. Rowland) are essenSchiieler and the voliime under consideration reflects his interest tial background to the prospective investigator in the field, since in the development of the means for explaining the relationship.* int,ercession by surgery and driigs has provided the crucial means of between the structures of molecules and their biological activities stitdying and analyzing interaction between brain and pituitary. in physical-chemical terms. These orientating chapters are roiinded out by one in which H. A. The book comprises ten chapters dealing with the following Bern and F. 6 .R’. Knowles discms the concept of Neurosecretion, topics: molecular aspects of cholinergic mechanisms by S. as evidenced in vertebrates and invertebrates by ordinary histolEhrenpreis, postganglionic parasympathetic stimulants (musogy, electron microscopy, cytochemist.ry, and variolls phy4ocarinic driigs) by H. L. Friedman, postganglionic parasympathetic logical techniques. These chapters are lucidly written and well depressants (cholinolytic or atropinelike agents) by J. G. Cannon illustrated. and J. P. Long, ganglionic stimulant and depressant agents by Against this background the remainder of the volume deals L. Gyermek, drugs acting a t nerve-skeletal m l d e junctions by with specific patterns of neurosecretory control. The response of J . J . Lewis and T . C. JIuir, reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase the mammalian organism to water deprivation, hemorrhage, and by J . P. Long and C. J. Evans, acid-transferring inhibitors of certain internal stimlili involves the Secretion, by the nerirohyacetylcholinesterase by I. B. 1f%on, sympathomimetic (adrenerpophysid, of an antidiuretic hormone (W.H. Sawyer and E. gic) stimulants by A. 31. Lands and T. G. Brown, Jr., synthetic Wills, Control of Va5opres.h Secretion). Another hornione postganglionic sympathetic depressants by S . B. Chapman and from the same striicture facilitat,es the efficient tranbfer of milk J. 1). P. Graham, and effects of drugs on the afferent nervous from mother to young who have begun to suckle, and possibly systems by C. 11. Smith. has a role in parturition and other reproductive phenomena (B. A. The editor wisely gave the authors of the various chapters Cross, Neural Control of Oxytocin Secretion). The next chapter, the freedom to present their subjects in the ways which seemed Hypot,halamic Releasing Factors and the Seiirovascular Link most appropriate and effective. This variety of approaches Between the Brain and the Anterior Pitiiitary (S. 11. McCann to related subjects by a group of experts has resulted in an exceland A. P. S.Dhariwal) serves as transition to papers on a series lent book, which is stimulating and authoritative. I t is apleasure of neliroendocrine control mechanisms with certain relationships to read and to use this book. The subject matter is well documenin common, in particular, the use of the portal vessels to transted. port substances, originatirig in the hypot.halamus, to the anterior The group of drugs treated in this volume has been the subject pituitary, which responds with altered .secretory rates. Thus, of much study from a number of points of view for many the anterior pituitary produces corticotropin when it receives years. The approaches made to the achievement of an undercorticotropin-releasing factor, gonadotropin when it receives standing of the structural requirements for biological activity and goiiadot,ropiri-relea,.ing factor, growth hormone and thyrotropin of the modes of action at the molecular level are some of the when it receives their respective releasing factors, and prolactin most highly sophisticated which have been made so far. This when it ceahes to receive prolactin-inhibiting factor. Chapters fact, combined with the rich, diversified, and up-to-date informa9-16 for the most part provide more detailed analyses of the tion and the critical presentation of various views and lines of brain-pit uitary-t arget organ feedback tems falling into this evidence on this group of drugs, makes this book one which general mold. I t will suffice here to list’ their subjects: Control should be of substantial value to anyone who is interested in of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Secretions (G. Mangili, 11. medicinal chemistry or pharmacology in general and particularly Motta, and L. Martini)) Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Secretion to those m-ho have a special interest in the driigs which act on in t.he Fetiis and Infant (K. Xlkovic and S. Milkovic), Seiiral the peripheral nervous system. and Other 1Iechanisms Regiilating A41dosteroneSecretion (P. J. l l d r o w ) , Control of Thyrotropic Hormone Secretion (S. ReichLABORATORY OF CHEMISTRY C ~ L ~ I 31. N FOLTZ lin), Control of Growth Hormone Secretion (A. Pecile and E. E. ?J.iTIONAL INSTITUTE O F ARTHRITIS hIuller), Control of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Male (I. 11. . ~ S D ~ ~ E T A B O L IDISEASES C Davidson), Control of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Female NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (B. Flerkh), and Control of Alammary Growth and Lactation, BETHESD.~, ?\r.iRYL.IND 20014 by J. Meites. Space doeq not permit the examination that many of these papers deserve; they are in general well written and certainly well edited. Three years ago in reviewing a book of the same title by Ernst Neuroendocrinology. Volume I. Edited by L. MARTINIand and Berta Scharrer I wrote, “It is not a textbook but a superlaW.F. GASOXG. Academic Press Inc., Kew Tork and London. tive introdrict,ory monograph o n Neiuoendocrinology-.” Editors 1966. xx 774 pp. S32.00. Martini and Ganong are to be congratulated for having produced a book with the full scope and readabilitl- of a good textbook. “Neuroendocrinology” is a late comer in the field of biological disciplines, but its burgeoning growth is indicakd by the t’wo NATIOSAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ERTVIN P. YOLLMER volumes to be issued under t,his title. To be sure, this growth BETHESDA, lI.iRYL.\XD 20014 is not de novo, but a merging of two traditional fields. What is new is the unity of approach and concentration on the operational linkage of the endocrine and nervow systems: Ganong says in his Introduction, “Because their functions are similar, it is not Insect Colonization and Mass Production. Edited by C ~ R R O L L surprising that they are related, but the closeness and intricacy S . SMITH. Academic Press Inc. Yew Tork and London. of this relation have only come to be appreciated in recent years.” 1966. xxi 618 pp. 23 X 16 em. I t is also not surprising that this first volume of the series The professional lives of thousands of people and untold sums of should focus upon mammalian pituitary-hypothalamic interacmoney have been spent in efforts to eliminate insect pests or to tions, since this has been a rich and medically promising field of reduce their populations to tolerable levels. However, the study for three decades. The probable direction of blood flow general public is scarcely aware of the painstaking work of entofrom the hypothalamus to the pituitary through a minute port’al mologists and other scientists who have been involved, particusystem was well established in t’he 1930’s by Wislocki, Houssay, larly in recent years, in an entirely different enterprise: colonizaand others. This suggested the transport of neurohumors to the tion and rearing of some of the worst insect enemies of mankind. “master gland,” and hence a route for the adaptation of the The rearing of beneficial insects is an ancient art and a young hormonally controlled internal milieu to the events of the external science but bees and silkworms are hardly mentioned in this environment as interpreted by the central nervous system. Quite
Medicinal Research Series. Volume 1. Drugs Affecting the Peripheral Nervous System. Edited by ALFRED BURGER. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, K. T. 1967. xxiii f 620 pp. 962i.30.
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