the neurobiology of down syndrome. edited by charles j. epstein. new york: raven press. 1986, 272 pp

2
BOOK REVIEWS 391 researchers increases. In any area as complex and extensive as epilepsy re- search, there is a need for timely, critical reviews. As in the previous volumes, critical evaluations of some of the presentations appear in the brief discussions following each of the 36 articles and in the three sets of general discussions. These discussions are usually informative and, on occasion, quite lively. A negative aspect of com- municating the latest information rapidly, in the case of this volume, is the nonuniform quality of the writing and of the presentation of some of the data. Also, as with most books of this genre, the index is incomplete. Never- theless, this volume has attained the goal of bringing together a diverse group of investigators who share a common interest, and it will serve as a useful library resource in the field of epilepsy research. FRANK J. LEBEDA, Ph.D. Section of Neurophysiology Program in Neuroscience Department of Neurology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas 77030 GABA AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION. Edited by G. Racagni and A. Donoso. New York: Raven Press. 1986.302 pp. This volume contains the proceedings of the Interna- tional Symposium on “GABA in Endocrine Function” held in Buenos Aires in November 1985. The book is divided into five sections which focus on the anatomy, biochemistry, and behavioral actions of GABA in the neuroendocrine system. Moreover, the last two sections of this book deal with the distribution of GABA in per- ipheral glands and reproductive tissues in mammals. The vast majority of the contributors to this book are well respected researchers in the field. In an introductory chapter, Dr. E. De Robertis pro- vides a short review of the organization of GABAergic synapses and the regulation of the GABA-benzodiaze- pine receptor complex. Following this introduction, there are a series of chapters dealing with the neuroanatomi- cal organization of the GABAergic system in the pri- mate brain, the biochemical demonstration of the presence of GABA in synaptic vesicles, and the isolation of endogenous ligands having a high affinity for GABA- bergodiazepine receptors. The second section of the book contains three pharmacologically oriented chapters, which describe different models in which the involve- ment of GABA in the control of various behaviours in rats is clearly demonstrated. The next seven papers in the book are part of a section entitled “GABA as Neu- roendocrine Transmitter.” In this section, most of the papers focus on the hypothalamopituitary GABAergic control of prolactin release. In addition the involvement of GABA in the control of pineal activity and the neu- rosecretory processes of adrenal chromaffin cells is dis- cussed in the two last papers of this section. Another part of this book includes different studies in which the role of GABA in the control of the release of several pituitary hormones in both primate and nonprimate species is clearly demonstrated. Finally, the last section of this volume analyzes the origin and functional role of GABA in reproductive tissues of rodents. As a whole, this book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date integrated view of the functional role of GABA in the endocrine system of mammals. One advantage of this book in comparison to other accounts of the proceed- ings of a symposium is its rapid publication after the meeting. Unfortunately, this type of publication is nec- essarily subject to some drawbacks. Although most of the papers published in this volume are well written, well illustrated, and up-to-date, many of the contribu- tions are too short and poorly referenced to give the in- depth coverage required by most researchers in the field, and this presumably reflects the time constraints to prepare the manuscripts which were imposed on the contributors. Moreover, the fact that the chapters which compose this book have been reproduced as camera- ready copy of the original mansucripts submitted by the authors results in a nonuniformity of typefaces used in each manuscript. However, despite these small draw- backs, this volume can be considered valuable, as it is well edited; and it should be very useful to neuropharm- acologists and biochemists who study the role of GABA in the control of pituitary functions. YOLAND SMITH Hhpital de l%nfantJhsus Centre de Recherche en Neurobwlogie 1401, lge Rue Quebec, Canada GIJ 124 THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF DOWN SYNDROME. Edited by Charles J. Epstein. New York: Raven Press. 1986, 272 PP. Chromosomal anomalies occur in over 50% of all hu- man ova and conceptuses. Fortunately, a large prepon- derance is not viable, but fetuses with the trisomy 21 genotype often survive to express the Down syndrome (DS) phenotype. As mankind’s most common, viable au- tosomal anomaly as well as the major cause of severe mental retardation, DS has elicited an enormous litera- ture over the 120 years since its original description by Langdon Down. Recently, as a consequence of DS’s as- sociation with Alzheimer’s disease and the availability of a murine trisomy 16 model, interest in the pathogen- esis of the DS phenotype, especially the neurobiological basis of its mental deficiency, has intensified. The Neurobwlogy ofDown Syndrome edited by Charles J. Epstein, is a summary of the proceedings of a confer- ence on this topic sponsored by the National Down Syn- drome Society. Its contents provide an excellent background, important new information, and provoca-

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BOOK REVIEWS 391

researchers increases. In any area as complex and extensive as epilepsy re-

search, there is a need for timely, critical reviews. As in the previous volumes, critical evaluations of some of the presentations appear in the brief discussions following each of the 36 articles and in the three sets of general discussions. These discussions are usually informative and, on occasion, quite lively. A negative aspect of com- municating the latest information rapidly, in the case of this volume, is the nonuniform quality of the writing and of the presentation of some of the data. Also, as with most books of this genre, the index is incomplete. Never-

theless, this volume has attained the goal of bringing together a diverse group of investigators who share a common interest, and it will serve as a useful library resource in the field of epilepsy research.

FRANK J. LEBEDA, Ph.D. Section of Neurophysiology Program in Neuroscience Department of Neurology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas 77030

GABA AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION. Edited by G. Racagni and A. Donoso. New York: Raven Press. 1986.302 pp.

This volume contains the proceedings of the Interna- tional Symposium on “GABA in Endocrine Function” held in Buenos Aires in November 1985. The book is divided into five sections which focus on the anatomy, biochemistry, and behavioral actions of GABA in the neuroendocrine system. Moreover, the last two sections of this book deal with the distribution of GABA in per- ipheral glands and reproductive tissues in mammals. The vast majority of the contributors to this book are well respected researchers in the field.

In an introductory chapter, Dr. E. De Robertis pro- vides a short review of the organization of GABAergic synapses and the regulation of the GABA-benzodiaze- pine receptor complex. Following this introduction, there are a series of chapters dealing with the neuroanatomi- cal organization of the GABAergic system in the pri- mate brain, the biochemical demonstration of the presence of GABA in synaptic vesicles, and the isolation of endogenous ligands having a high affinity for GABA- bergodiazepine receptors. The second section of the book contains three pharmacologically oriented chapters, which describe different models in which the involve- ment of GABA in the control of various behaviours in rats is clearly demonstrated. The next seven papers in the book are part of a section entitled “GABA as Neu- roendocrine Transmitter.” In this section, most of the papers focus on the hypothalamopituitary GABAergic control of prolactin release. In addition the involvement of GABA in the control of pineal activity and the neu- rosecretory processes of adrenal chromaffin cells is dis- cussed in the two last papers of this section. Another

part of this book includes different studies in which the role of GABA in the control of the release of several pituitary hormones in both primate and nonprimate species is clearly demonstrated. Finally, the last section of this volume analyzes the origin and functional role of GABA in reproductive tissues of rodents.

As a whole, this book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date integrated view of the functional role of GABA in the endocrine system of mammals. One advantage of this book in comparison to other accounts of the proceed- ings of a symposium is its rapid publication after the meeting. Unfortunately, this type of publication is nec- essarily subject to some drawbacks. Although most of the papers published in this volume are well written, well illustrated, and up-to-date, many of the contribu- tions are too short and poorly referenced to give the in- depth coverage required by most researchers in the field, and this presumably reflects the time constraints to prepare the manuscripts which were imposed on the contributors. Moreover, the fact that the chapters which compose this book have been reproduced as camera- ready copy of the original mansucripts submitted by the authors results in a nonuniformity of typefaces used in each manuscript. However, despite these small draw- backs, this volume can be considered valuable, as it is well edited; and it should be very useful to neuropharm- acologists and biochemists who study the role of GABA in the control of pituitary functions.

YOLAND SMITH Hhpital de l%nfantJhsus Centre de Recherche en Neurobwlogie 1401, l g e Rue Quebec, Canada GIJ 124

THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF DOWN SYNDROME. Edited by Charles J. Epstein. New York: Raven Press. 1986, 272 PP.

Chromosomal anomalies occur in over 50% of all hu- man ova and conceptuses. Fortunately, a large prepon- derance is not viable, but fetuses with the trisomy 21 genotype often survive to express the Down syndrome (DS) phenotype. As mankind’s most common, viable au- tosomal anomaly as well as the major cause of severe mental retardation, DS has elicited an enormous litera-

ture over the 120 years since its original description by Langdon Down. Recently, as a consequence of DS’s as- sociation with Alzheimer’s disease and the availability of a murine trisomy 16 model, interest in the pathogen- esis of the DS phenotype, especially the neurobiological basis of its mental deficiency, has intensified.

The Neurobwlogy ofDown Syndrome edited by Charles J. Epstein, is a summary of the proceedings of a confer- ence on this topic sponsored by the National Down Syn- drome Society. Its contents provide an excellent background, important new information, and provoca-

392 BOOK REVIEWS

tive speculation on the molecular and cellular basis for the DS phenotype.

Multiauthored monographs such as this often suffer from lack of coherence, redundancy, and irrelevance. Epstein’s book has hints of these problems but is firmly organized around two themes: Current neurobiological knowledge and new approaches to better understanding the molecular pathogenesis of DS. Flushing out the first theme are a series of chapters emphasizing the neuro- pathological, biochemical, and physiological aspects of DS. Particularly interesting in this section were the chapters by Wisniewski et al., describing their meticu- lous studies on DS neuronal density and synaptogenesis and the chapter by Balazs and Brooksbanks reviewing the evidence for free radicals as an etiological factor in DS. The chapter by McCoy and Enns on neurotransmit- ters was the book’s worst because of its superficiality and obsolescence-many of the data discussed were over a decade old.

Following the neuroscience chapters are several chap- ters which focus on the second theme-experimental systems and biological concepts of use in studying DS. Of special value to the neuroscience community are the reviews of the trisomy 16 mouse and chimeric models of DS by Coyle et al. and Oster-Granite et al., who have performed some of the definitive studies on these exper- imental systems. A leitmotiv throughout the book, but

especially prominent in this section’s summary chapter by Nadel, is the primary involvement of the hippocam- pal region and its role in the specific cognitive deficien- cies that characterize DS.

In his introductory chapter, Epstein comments that the book’s purpose is to lay the conceptual groundwork for future research on DS which would then serve as a prototype for other human chromosomal anomalies. This is successfully accomplished while stimulating the read- er’s thoughts on how the “experiment in nature” that we know as DS might be used to answer questions about other neurobiological parameters, both normal and pathological. I found the chapters generally well writ- ten, informative, thorough, and quite often, provocative. Down syndrome has many biological and genetic lessons to teach. Epstein’s book is an excellent introduction to this disorder’s multidimensionality and provides a solid neurobiological background. From experimental, refer- ence, and conceptual perspectives, this modest book would be worthwhile reading for any neuroscientist.

JOHN R. SHEPPARD, PhD Director, Dight Laboratories Department of Genetics and Cell Biology University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455

BOOKS RECEIVED

Altschuler, R.A., Bobbin, R.P., and Hoffman, D.W. (eds.) (1986) Neurobiology of Hearing: The Cochlea. Raven Press, New York.

Bullock, T.H., and Heiligenberg, W. (eds.) (1986) Electro- reception. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Cotman, C.W., Brinton, R.E., Galaburda, A., McEwen, B., and Schneider, D.M. (eds.) (1987) The Neuro-Zm- muneEndocrine Connection. Raven Press, New York.

Salpeter, M.M. (ed.) (1987) The Vertebrate Neuromuscu- lar Junction. Neurology and Neurobiology, Vol. 23. Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York.

Sandler, M., Feuerstein, C. and Scatton, B. (eds.) (1987) Neurotransmitter Interactions in the Basal Ganglia. Raven Press, New York.

Schmidt, D., and Morselli, P.L. (1986) Intractable Epi- lepsy: Experimental and Clinical Aspects. Raven Press, New York.

Von Euler, C., and Lagercrantz, H. (eds.) (1987) Neuro- biology of the Control of Breathing. Raven Press, New York.

Yahr, M.D., and Bergmann, K.J. (eds.) (1987) Parkin- son’s Disease. Advances in Neurology, Vol. 45. Raven Press, New York.

Forward all books for review to:

Dr. Alvin Beitz Book Review Editor, SYNAPSE Department of Veterinary Biology 1988 Fitch Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108