Cell-Ceil Recognition: Symposium XXX1 I of the Society for Experimental Biology. Pp. 478. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 19 78. E20.00.

This collection of 18 articles is a good summary of current studies on cell-cell recognition in a variety of biological systems. Although the articles follow from a Society of Experimental Biology Symposium, they are on the whole much better than ‘recent results from our laboratory’ and they contain careful reviews of the literature. An outstanding example of such a review is in the 55.page article on nerve connections (Horder and Martin) where the usually dominating idea of chemospecificity is held in check.

Recognition is a splendidly umbrella word and here it holds together a rich variety of articles. First the three hypotheses of cell-cell recognition are displayed. There is the specific adhesion theory supported by studies on sponges (Burger), Chlamydomonas (Wiese), retinotectal connections in chicks (Pierce), and yeast (Crandall). Then the differential adhesion theory is discussed in relation to the behaviour of a variety of aggregates (Steinberg). The last hypothesis is that of interaction-modulation studied with the chick lymphoid system (Curtis and De Sousa).

The volume is distinguished by the range of biological examples: pollen-stigma interactions (Heslop-Harrison), plant grafting (Yeoman), slime moulds (Newell, Garrod), and immune responses (Dales, Ford, Katz, Greaves). It should be bought by all University biology departments.

C. F. Graham

Specificity of Embryological Interactions. Edited by D. R. Garrod. Pp. vii f 2 74. Chapman Et Hall, London. 19 78. fl5.00

This publication in the series Receptors and Recognition is aptly titled. The first two papers pose the problem. Noden’s review of the recent work on ‘Migration and Cytodifferentiation of Avian Neural Crest Cells’ will appeal to those working in this field because he emphasises the concept of cell interaction and the importance of the tissue environment in neural crest differentiation. Gaze presents the intriguing problems and experimental findings associated with the precise connections which the retina obtains with the tectum.

The remaining five contributions analyse cell and cell membrane specificity in experimental work in isolated cells; Steinberg presents the views on Specific Cell Ligands and the Differential Adhesion Hypothesis; Lilien, Hermolin, and Lipke emphasise the molecular aspects of specific cell adhesion and cell motility; Curtis presents three models in his discussion of the Morphogen or Interaction Modulation Theory; Turner discusses cell recognition in the investigations of cell adhesion in sponges; while Rosen and Barondes use experimental work on cellular slime molds as the basis for their contribution on intercellular adhesions.

Each article presents its own informative account of the mechanisms of cell interaction

and recognition with sufficient overlap in the contents to provide a valuable integrated series.

John McKenzie

The Release of Catecholamines from Adrenergic Neurons. Edited by David M. Paton. Pp. 393. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 19 79. Hard cover E20.00, flexi cover

flO.OO.

Professor Paton has managed to persuade nineteen of the leading neurochemists and neuropharmacologists who are research- ing on the mechanisms and control of neurotransmitter release, to contribute short essays to this volume. Its coverage is therefore very wide and most key aspects of catecholamine neurotransmitter release are represented. Thus the participation of synaptic vesicles, exocytosis, the role of calcium, coupling to membrane potential, and minature- end-plate-potentials receive a good deal of attention with excellent, short but clear accounts by A. D. Smith, M. P. Blaustein, M. Fillenz, D. J. Ttiggle, D. M. Paton, and others. The majority of the contributions, however, concern themselves with interpreting the mechanisms and physiological significance of the catecholamine-releasing or release- inhibiting properties of various endogenous substances of central interest. These include prostaglandins (L. Stjiime), opioid peptides (G. Henderson, J. Hughes and H. w. Kosterlitz) and adenosine (A. S. Clanachan). These effects, when complemented with receptor- binding studies, provide direct evidence for a regulatory role of these transmitter or hormonal substances in catecholamine-release, principally by presynaptic modulation. This new area is beginning to yield a rich harvest for our understanding of the many factors which form part of the carefully controlled process of noradrenaline and dopamine release, and some of the salient leads, together with a key to the relevant literature, are presented here.

H. F. Bradford

Toxicology. Biochemistry and Pathology of Mycotoxins. Editedby Kenji UraquchiandMikio Yamazaki. Pp. 288. John Wiley, Chichester. 19 78. f 19.50

This book outlines some important areas of toxicology; interesting biosynthetic mechanisms; some unusual biochemical reactions; and aspects relevant to public health control. It is noteworthy for including adequate descriptions of, and cross-referencing to the extensive Japanese contributions to mycotoxicology.

The six chapters of the book are clearly written and comprehensively documented: there are over a thousand references cited, with many in the period 1975-6. The introduction by Dr Uraguchi gives a short factual account of the background to present work on mycotoxins, and is followed by a comprehensive chapter on mycotoxin research in relation to food mycology by H. Kurata. The chemistry, biochemistry, and toxicology of mycotoxins are treated in chapters 2 and 3 by M. Yamazaki, and by Y. Ueno with I. Ueno. Chapter 2 illustrates clearly the variety of structures that fall within the scope of the book.

The morphological aspects of mycotoxicology are described by K. Terao and Y. Ueno in chapter 4, whilst M. Enomoto gives a good account of the important area concerning the carcinogenicity of mycotoxins in chapter 5. The role of Aflatoxins in producing cancer is described by K. Aibara in the final chapter and this provides an account of the occurrence of Aflatoxins in Japanese foods.

The book is generally well produced, although the electron micrographs and histology photographs show a disappointing lack of contrast. On the whole, I found the book well written and believe it will be a useful addition to previous works published in this area.

T. F. Slater

Pathways of Pollutants in the Atmosphere. A Royal Society Discussion. Pp. 169. The RoyalSociety, London. 1979. El 2.90 (UK), El 3.30 (overseas).

This volume arose from a two-day discussion on the chemical, physical, and meteorological factors which are involved in the dispersion and transformation of some atmospheric pollutants. The problems addressed include stratospheric ozone depletion; the nitrous oxide cycle; the greenhouse effect due to CO, and aerosols; sulphur dioxide; trace organic compounds such as amines and benzo (a) pyrene; and lead. These technical articles are put in a broader context by discussions of the effects of pollutants, the philosophy of monitoring, and the UK philosophy of emissions control.

Individually the articles give valuable summaries of selected topics at a not too technical level. However the coverage of the field is very variable and the reader who wants a comprehensive review of any particular problem will probably be disappointed. For example the global cycles of CO, and SOI are not discussed, nor is the droplet phase chemistry of SO,, nor is the question of the efficiency of lead adsorption into human lungs.

It is therefore not a book which meets an obvious need in the literature although the diligent reader will gain an appreciation of the many different approaches needed to explain and predict the behaviour of pollutants in the atmosphere.

A. G. Clarke

Behavioural Biology of Aplyda: A contribution to the comparative study of opisthobranch molluscs by Eric R. Kandel. Pp. 463. W. H. Freeman, Reading. 19 79. Hard cover f25.20, Paperback f 11.60.

The gastropod mollusc, Aplysiu, is much favoured by neurobiologists trying to understand how nerve cells integrate their activity to produce simple behavioural acts. This is because compared with vertebrates its central ganglia contain rather small numbers of large nerve cells. Much of the neurobiological work on Aplysiu has been summarised in an earlier book by Kandel, ‘The cellular basis of behaviour’ (Freeman, 1976). The main objective of the present book is to integrate the neurobiological information on Aplysia with what is known about the biology of this and

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