862 Book Reviews

Receptor Pharmacology and Function--Edited by M. Williams. R. A. Glennon and P. B. Timmermans. 778 pp. 1989 Marcel Dekker, New York. ($150 US and Canada) $180.

After initial chapters on the principles of ligand binding studies, the different receptors (R) each have a chapter to themselves; alpha adreno-R; beta adreno-R; central 5HT-R; histamine-R; GABA-R; benzodiazepine-R; excitatory amino acid-R; cholinergic-R; purine-R; peptide-R; opioid- R; eicosanoid-R; phenycyclidine-R and tricyclic antidepres- sant-R; calcium channel-R; dopamine-R. There are two different types of receptors. The first type is a single membrane spanning polypeptide chain with seven alpha helical regions. Agonist binding to this receptor is trans- duced via G protein to an effector molecule such as adenyl cyclase, phospholipase C or an ionic channel. The second type of receptor has several membrane spanning subunits arranged to form an ionic channel. The agonist binding to the receptor affects the opening/closing of the channel. Many receptors seem to be related, i.e. the GABA-A, and glycine receptors are related to the nicotinic receptor, all of which act on ionic channels. There are multiple types of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors due to receptor hetero- geneity. This allows the development of drugs that act specifically or mainly on one type (subclass) of receptor and hence tissue specificity. This book provides an excellent summary of this rapidly developing subject.

Transdermai Drug Delivery--Edited by J. Hadgraft and R. H. Guy. 324 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker, New York. ($99.75 U.S. & Canada): $119.5.

Transdermal drug delivery allows direct pathway of the drug to the circulatory system; controlled sustained release over many hours; maintenance of low but effective drug levels; and acceptance of the system by the patient. Drugs that are being delivered this way include nitroglycerin, clonidine, estradiol, scopolamine, propanolol, phenyl- propanolamine, and bronchodilators. The topics discussed are structure of the skin; selection of drug candidates; cutaneous side effects; drug metabolism in the skin; micro- bial metabolism in the skin; pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and tolerance; theophylline treatment of new born infants; in vitro evaluation; penetration enhancers; ion- tophoresis; packaging of the system. This book will be very interesting to those who wish to develop systems to deliver other drugs.

Neuropeptides and Stress--Edited by Y. Tache, J. E. Morley, and M. R. Brown. 345 pp. 1989. Springer Verlag, New York. $85.

The chapters in this Hans Selye symposium are grouped into sections on neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to stress, corticotropin releasing factor; brain peptides, stress and autonomic function; neuropeptides, stress and gas- trointestinal function; stress, neuropeptides and immune function; and opioids and stress. Within these sections other topics discussed include arousal, functional connections of the amygdala, neurophysiology of hypothalamic magnocel- lular neurosecretory neurons, cardiovascular regulation, vascular shock, brain calcitonin receptors, electroconvulsive shock, and opioid receptors.

Parasitic Infections in the Compromised Host--Edited by P. D. Walzer and R. M. Genta. 632 pp. 1989 Marcell Dekker, New York ($125 USA & Canada) $150.

A compromised host is a person or animal who is deficient in defense or immune mechanisms. As a result they are very susceptible to parasitic infections. 15% of the North Amer- ican population become infected with Toxoplasma gondii and have viable cysts in muscles and brain. A large percent- age of AIDS patients become infected with Pneumocystis and die from pneumonia. The present book deals with: the compromised host, AIDS and other diseases; Leishmania; Pneumocystis carinii; Toxoplasma gondii; Cryptosporidium (now present in .British tap water and causing d. & v.); Giardia lamblia; Entamoeba histolytica [the preceding spe- cies are all parasitic protozoa]; Parasitic helminths; Strongy- loidea. In each chapter the infection, disease and treatment are described in detail. Although modern medicine tends to concentrate on bacterial and viral disease, protozoan and worm infections are becoming more important partly be- cause of greater world travel, and partly because their danger is increased by reduced immune response in the host and greater pollutiori of the environment. This book will make the reader aware of the problems and how they can be partially solved.

The Biology of Surfactant--B. A. Hills. 408 pp. 1988. Cambridge University Press. $89.50.

Although the role of surfactants is best known in the lung, they also play a role in the gasrointestinal tract, joints and at tissue surfaces. The book deals with; surfaces and surfac- tants; structure, synthesis and analysis of phospholipids; measurement of surface tension; adsorption and wetting; monolayers; alveolar models and morphology; lung me- chanics and homeostasis; lubrication and release; gastric mucosal protection and membrane permeability; liquid-air interface in vivo. The author emphasises the physico-chemi- cal principles underlying the mechanism of action of surfac- tants.

The Prefrontal Cortex. 2nd edition--J. M. Fuster. 255 pp. 1989. Raven Press, New York. $69.

The main topics of this book are; anatomy and development of the prefrontal cortex; neurotransmitters; lesion studies; neurophysiology; human studies [disorders of attention, perception, motility, temporal integration, emotion, cogni- tion]; theory of prefrontal functions. Since the first edition there have been significant advances in the electrophysiology of the frontal cortex, brain imaging, brain metabolism and neurochemistry. The prefrontal cortex is at the top of the hierarchy involved in motor control. The author suggests that it performs its integrative and associational role by interacting with the cortical sensory hierarchy. It is the key in the "perception-action" cycle; it ensures retention of information for prospective acts, prepares the brain for these acts and suppresses extraneous influences that could lead the action astray. The author supports this view with experimental and clinical evidence.