Camp. Eiochem. fhysiol. Vol. IOSA, No. 2, pp. 381-382, 1993 Pergamon Press Ltd. Printed in Great Britain

BOOK REVIEWS

llu: Mussel, Mytiius: Ecology, Physiology, Genetics and Cutture-Edited by E. GOSLING. 589~~. 1992. Elsevier, An sterdam. $137, DM240.

Mtssels are important as a food and are a dominant species in t le marine environment. This volume surveys: the system- atits and geographical distribution of Mytilus (M); evol- uticn and success of M; ecology and morphology of M larva ant post-larva; population and community ecology of M; physiological interrelations and the regulation of pro- duction; cellular biochemistry and endocrinology; genetics of !4; M and environmental contaminants, bioaccumulation and physiology; molecular and cellular aspects of contami- nation; M cultivation; M and public health; diseases and par.tsites of M. This volume will become a standard hand- book for all those interested in Mytilus.

Environmental Physiology of the Amphibians-Edited by E. FEDER and W. W. B&I&EN. 646pp. 1992. University of Chit:ago Press, Chicago. Hardback $135, E107.95; Paper- back S47.50, f37.95.

Thi! important major work deals with all aspects of the physiology of amphibia. The topics dealt with are:

(1) lontrol systems (nervous system; endocrinology). (2) Exchange of gases, osmolytes, water, and heat (biophys- ics c f heat and mass transfer; exchange of respiratory gases, ions and water; sensory mechanisms regulating cardiovas- cula - and respiratory systems; influence of temperature and thernal acclimation on physiological function; thermoregu- lation; estimation and hibernation). (3) Energetics and locomotion (striated muscle; energetics at rest and during locomotion; feeding and digestion; behav- ioral energetics). (4) I Ievelopment and reproduction (growth and repr jduction; developmental changes in the physiological systems).

There is a 96-page bibliography. It is an advanced text suitable for senior undergraduates, and research workers and research students. Most readers of Comparative Bio- chemistry and Physiology will find it an interesting and useft.1 book.

Muscular Contractior+Edited by R. M. SIMMONS. 299~~. 1992 Cambridge University Press. f35, $69.95.

This is a Festschrift volume in honour of Andrew Huxley (AH,. The topics de,lt with are: AH’s contribution to nerve phystology; AH’s research on muscle; ultraslow, slow, medium and fast inactivation of human sodium channels; the sructure of the triad; calcium-induced calcium release mechanisms in skeletal muscle and its modification by drug:; hypodynamic tension changes in frog heart; regu- latiorl of contractile proteins in heart muscle; differential activation of myofibrils during fatigue; high-speed digital imaging microscopy of isolated muscle cells; inotropic mech- anism of myocardium; regulation of muscle contraction, dual role of calcium and cross bridges; fibre types in Xenopus muscle and their functional properties; EM of isolated muscle fibres; structural changes accompanying mechanical events in muscle contraction; mechano-chemistry of nega- tively stained cross bridges in skeletal muscle; force re- sponses in steady lengthening of active single muscle fibres.

The Contribution of Nutrition to Human and Animal HealtLEdited by E. M. WIDWW~ON and J. C. MATHERS. 407~~. 1992. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. c60.

The Nutrition Society to celebrate its golden jubilee (50 years) in 1991 held this symposium. The major topics dealt with are: energy intake and expenditure (experimental ani- mals, farm animals, man, obesity); metabolism of major nutrients (nitrogen metabolism in ruminants, protein metab- olism in man, fat metabolism, sugars, complex carbo- hydrates); minerals and vitamins (calcium, iron, trace elements, selenium; fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vita- mins); pregnancy and lactation, nutrition and growth, hu- man pregnancy, growth in the tropics; deficiencies of energy and protein (under-nutrition in Germany in the post-war period, Kwashiorkor in Uganda, protein energy malnu- trition in Jamaica); policies for food, nutrition and health (wartime, translating knowledge into policy; epidemiology of diet and food, government food and nutrition policies); food composition, food education and the role of the food industry. A very useful survey and food for thought.

Hepatic Plasma Proteins: Mechanisms of Function aad Regu- latioo-By B. H. BOWMAN. 285~~. 1993. Academic Press, San Diego, CA (price not given).

The human liver synthesizes over 20 g of plasma protein daily to meet the body’s need for growth factors, to provide defence against tissue destruction and to transport metals, vitamins and hormones. The proteins discussed in detail in this book are: transferrins, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, a-2-HS-glycoprotein, vitamin D binding protein, comp- lement 3, a-l acid glycoprotein, C reacting protein and a-1-antitrypsin. The variations in plasma proteins that lead to physiological and clinical abnormalities are also dis- cussed. There is a full description of the biochemical regula- tors (cytokines and transcription factors) that control the plasma proteins; the functional associations between specific DNA sequences on the gene and the trans-acting protein transcription factors from the cell’s nucleus that control the quantity of mRNA produced. The concentrations of plasma proteins produced are also affected by inflammation, and changes associated with embryonic development, matu- ration and senescence.

Hyperglycemia, Diabetes and Vascular Disease-Edited by N. RUDERMAN, J. WILLIAMSON and M. BROWNLEE. Clinical Physiology Series, American Physiological Society, 300pp. 1992. Oxford University Press, NY. $90.

One to 5% of the world’s population is affected by some form of diabetes (D). D is a leading cause of blindness and renal failure in young and middle-aged adults, and a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. This volume deals with: overview; epidemi- ology; altered platelet function; vascular endothelium; cer- ebral microvascular transport and metabolism; mechanisms of D-induced vascular dysfunction; retinopathy and nephropathy in animal models-D vs galactosemia; cell culture model for the study of vascular complication of D; metabolism of arachidonic acid; glycation and auto-oxi- dation of proteins in aging and D; nonenzymic glycosyla- tion; glycation of basement membrane molecules; effect of D on kidney proteoglycans. The early products of glycosy-

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