702 Book Reviews

Beneficial effects of endotoxins-edited by ALOIS NOWOTNY, 581 pp. 1983. Plenum Press. New York. $69.50.

This volume discusses the role that endotoxins can play both in research and clinical study.

Pyrogens have been used for many years to induce fevers, and with improved chemical extraction of LPS (lipo- polysaccharide) from the cell wails of gram-negative bacte- ria. greater control of the LPS can induce loss of appetite (starvation), water and salt conservation, and activation of the blood clotting system.

LPS can also stimulate DNA synthesis in B cells; produce a polyclonal response; serve as a adjuvant: and exert an immunosuppresive effect.

LPS can enhance the host’s resistance to infective mi- crobes and also protect against deleterious effects of radi- ation and decrease susceptibility to post-radiation infection.

Endotoxins can induce the production of interferon and colony-stimulating factor (CSF), enhance non-specific re- sistance to tumors, help reduce graft rejection, and modulate graft vs host reaction.

They are clearly a very important research and clinical tool and greater understanding of their mode of action will be of great value. This volume presents our knowledge of the role of endotoxins in a clear and well-written manner and will do much to stimulate further research in this important subject.

Neurophysiological aspects of color vision in primates (corn- parative studies on simian retinal ganglion cellsand the himan visual system)-by E. ZRENNER, 218 pp. 1983. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 89; $35.60.

The chapter headings are as follows: Historical intro- duction; Methods of single cell recording and identification of cone inputs; Types of retinai cells and their dist~bution; Special properties of blue sensitive ganglion cells: Temporal properties of color-opponent ganglion cells; Spectra proper- ties of human visual system as revealed by visually evoked cortical potentials (VECP) and psychophysical in- vestigations; Epilogue; Summary.

The author gives a very clear account. based on his study of 385 ganglion cells in the retina of the rhesus monkey. of the functional colour vision system.

Cones can be classified according to their pigment absorp- tion spectra as red-, green- or blue-sensitive cones. A number of these cones will be connected via interneurones with a single ganglion cell. This ganglion cell will respond when the cones are illuminated. For example, a given ganglion cell could be excited by red light (centre of field excited by red light) and inhibited by green light (sur- rounding field ~IIuminated by green light). This would be a typical red/green (R + G -) color-opponent ganglion cell.

In the rhesus monkey Zrenner showed that the most common types of ganglion cells were as follows (the centre being given first and the surround after): Rf C-, 21%; GtR--, 11:;; G-R+, 97;; B-+-L-, 5.7%; R-G+, 5:.;, and B- Lf , 0.37;, (L indicates affected by longer wave lengths of light).

Wavelengths in between the two opponents (between, say, red and green) may produce little reaction from the ganglion cell and be at the cell’s neutral point.

There are different methods by which the color-opponent system optimises the ability to detect differences in the spectral sensitivity of the light. These are: (a) successive color contrast, where the response of the cell can be reversed in polarity by two successive stimuh: (b) the blue system can enhance the responsiveness to chromatic contrast; and (c) at high flicker rates the chromatic antagonism changes to a synergism of centre and surround.

The book is very clearly written and well illustrated. It

presents an excellent account, linking together the experi- mental results obtained by electrophysiology on the rhesus monkey retina with those obtained by visually evoked cortical potentials and psychophysical investigation in man into a coherent system.

Autonomic nerve function in vertebrates--by STEFAN NILSSON. 280 pp. 1983. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 118: $47.20.

After an introduction to the previous literature on the subject, the author gives details of the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system from the cyclostomes, elas- mobranchs, teleosts. dipnoi, amphibia, reptiles, birds and mammals. This is then followed by chapters on neu- rotransmission; receptors for transmitter substances; drugs affecting membranes; adrenegic, cholinergic, purinergic, serotonergic and peptidergic transmission: chromaffin tis- sue; the circulatory system; spleen; alimentary canal; swim bladder and lung; urinary bladder: iris chromatophores.

It is now clear that there are autonomic neurons that are neither adrenergic or cholinergic; possible transmitters could be ATP, 5HT or polypeptides.

The autonomic control is modified by presynaptic recep- tors. There is evidence for more than one transmitter in a single given neurone: ACh and VIP for mammalian exocrine glands; ACh and somatostatin for toad heart.

The book is well written and excellently presented. The author makes a very good case that the autonomic nervous system provides a model system for making new and exciting discoveries concerning the functioning of the ner- vous system.

Central neurone environment and the control systems of breathing and circulatior+edited by M. E. SCHLAFKE, H. P. KOEPCWN and W. R. SEE. 271 pp. 1983. Springer Veriag, Berlin. DM 84; $33.60.

This volume is based on a meeting held in 1981 in honour of Hans Loeschke, who discovered the Ventral meduliary substrates Forming the drive for respiration and circulation control systems.

Three main topics were discussed in the 30 reviews. They were: (I) chloride and bicarbonate exchanges between the extracellular Auid of the brain and glia; (2) the organization of chemical respiratory drives and the homeostasis of the CNS; and (3) the organization of the central respiratory rhythm generator and its relation to autonomic cardio- vascular control. Pathological conditions such as sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory disorders during sleep. and bronehomofor dispai~ents were also discussed.

The bichemistry, physiology and circuitry of respiratory and circulatory control systems are relatively well known and could form an excellent model for interaction and control of synergistic and antagonistic systems within the CNS. This volume will provide many examples of such systems in action and also indicate the gaps in our present- day knowiedge.

Biological rhythm and medicine. Cellular, metallic, phys- iopathological and pharmacologic aspects--edited by A. REINBERG and M. H. SMOL.ENSKY, with contributions from H. V. MAYERSBACH, J. E. PAULY, L. A. SCHEVING. L. E. SCHEVING and T. H. TSAI. 305 pp. 1983. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 185; $71.80.

The volume could stand as an introductory textbook on human chronobiology in health and disease. The first chapter provides an introduction to chronobiology. It is