been published. Other groups reported stmtlar success in

extracting brain of other species or human CSF: a larger

peptide with similar properties was obtained by A. Gold-

stein and co-worker from the pitultar) gland. (These dis-

coveries link the effects of opiates with the analgesia pro-

duced by electrical stimulation of certain regions of the

brain stem and may well be at the basis of acupuncture

analgesia. all three forms of attenuation of pain being sen-

sttive to naloxone.) A large scctmn of the book deals with

the study of opiate receptors: thts has been cxtcnded to

isolated clones of ncuroblastoma,glioma hydrids. Oppos-

undoubtedly provide a simple system for the study of the

effect of opiates on prostaglandins and cyclic AMP. Col-

lier’s group described a new phenomenon they call quasi-

abstiticncc syndrome. It is produced by giving naloxone

to animals which have never been in contact with an opiate

but were given a single injection of an inhibitor of phos-

phodiesterase. Such results reinforce the view held by Col-

lier that cyclic AMP plays a central role in all actions

of opiates.

These examples must suffice to indicate that the confer-

ence report makes most stimulating reading for anybody ing responses obtained in cells pre-incubated with mor- wanting to learn about recent progress in the understand- phine and untreated cells. suggest that a model of mor- ing of the actions of opiates. phine tolerance could now he obtained in riiro: these cells MARTHE VOGT

Peripheral Arterial Chemoreceptors, M. J. Prl~vss (Ed.) Cambridge University Press (1975). 492 pp., f14.00

THE FtRs’r full symposium on arterial chemoreceptors was

held in Oxford in July 1966. Its proceedings were published

in the now well-known book edited by R. W. Torrance.

At the time of that symposium it was generally accepted

on the basis of De Castro’s observations that the carotid

nerve consisted essentially of sensory tibres distributed to

the carotid sinus and the carotid glomus. The question

of any possible efferent fibres in it had not come up ser-

iously and acetylcholine appeared to be an excellent candi-

date as a transmitter at chemoreceptors. Since then a lot

has happened. In fact, in the seven years following this

symposium, De Castro’s observations had been contested

and subsequently re-established (partly). the existence of

inhibitory efferent fibres to the glomus running in the IXth

nerve had been proposed and subsequently doubted and

challenged. acetylcholine as a transmitter no longer

appeared as attractive as before and techniques for measur-

ing the local PO, had been introduced. Therefore, by 1973,

the time was ripe for a second symposium. This was held

in July at Bristol and was orgdnised by Dr. M. J. Purves

who has edited the proceedings in “Periphrrul Artaid (‘h~morc~1~eptor.s”.

There is a considerable amount of new information m

this book, notably a paper by Eyzaguirre and Gallego

based on De Castro’s original slides which not only reveals

De Castro’s technical mastery of the subject but it succeeds

in bringing about a reconciliation of divergent views aris-

ing from recent observations on degeneration of fibres and

terminals following intracranial section of the IXth nerve.

There are five papers relating to chemoreceptors and the

circulation. These will interest cardiovascular physiologists

and clinicians. On the other hand, there is practically

nothing in the book, including the well-edited discussion,

relating to the respiratory reflex effects. The Respiratory

group will therefore be disappointed.

On the whole, the papers are good and well-illustrated

and need to be seen not only by those working in the

field but also by those working in related fields e.g. neuro-

physiologists who, by and large, have not been specially

interested in the arterial chemoreceptors. Their attention

is particularly invited to the papers in which the

mechanism of stimulation of chemoreceptors is considered,

because they will find in this book highly original sugges-

tions on how sensory receptors may work.

A. S. PAINTAL

Microchemical Analysis of Nervous Tissue, N. N. OSBORNE. Pergamon Press (1974). 224 pp., G3.00.

THIS book should prove invaluable to anybody who wants

to separate or analyze almost any substance in the nervous

system. Apart from a Chapter entitled ‘Choice of Biological

Material for Microanalysis’ which suggests somebody with

a method looking for a problem, hut is not what the

chapter is about. the book consists of a chapter concerning instruments and glassware, one on micro-biochemical pro-

cedures. another on general techniques and other extensive

chapters on the determination of amines and amino acids,

phospholipids and electrophoresis of proteins.

of 125 Figures and 40 Tables. the book and the procedures

described are well illustrated.

Each chapter is prefaced with an introduction in which

the author gives a brief account of the relevant background material before launching into the theoretical and practical

considerations of the procedures to be discussed. This is

followed by a section on the apparatus and reagents which are required, one on the methodology and, finally.

examples of the application of the procedure. By means

An example of the help which this book could bc to

all laboratory workers is the chapter on electrophoresis.

Sufficient detail is given, e.g. concentrations of buffers,

dyes, gels, voltages to use, staining and destaining methods,

how to prepare gels, store gels etc., that one could start

the day with a tissue homogenate and end it with a series of microgels showing the proteins in the extract without

even having had to consult another book or paper. The

saving in expensive manhours that this allows would make

the book pay for itself within a short time.

The book, which contains an author index but, unfor-

tunately, not a subject index, is recommended for all who need to analyze cell constituents, not only for those who

study the nervous system. I. W. CHUBB