Book Reviews 719

on the motoneurone. the hippocampal pyramidal cells. cor- changes in taurine levels. There are mdications that a pre- tico-striatal fibres. and the granular cells of the cerebellar cursor cysteine sulfinic acid (CSA) could also have modu- cortex. Evidence is presented in this volume in terms of the lator properties (its release 1s calcium modulated and inotophoretic application of glutamate and its affect of potasstum stimulated; it stimulates formation of CAMP: It nerve membrane potential and action potentials. the selec- is taken up by specific acidic amino acid transport system). tive uptake of glutamate; the binding of labelled glutamate Depolarization of nerves can lead to release of CABA but to specific sites. differential binding of ligands; autoradio- not taurine. No specific receptors for taurine have been grnphlc and microchemical localization of high affinity found in the brain. The antagonists of taurine are non- uptake and the specific release of glutamate following specific (strychnine and bicuculline), The majority of bind- stimulation. ing sites are sodium dependent.

There are 14 contributors to this volume and they present the case for glutamate in a well argued manner. The main problem is that there is at present no highly specilic antagonist that will block glutamate action and which can differentiate glutamate from aspartate or even ACh. It is still possible that the active transmitter could be “like-glutamate” but not actually glutamate.

The volume with its 30 contributors provides an intercst- ing and exciting account of the many roles of taurme in the body.

Rena1 transport of organic substances-edited by R. GREGER. F. LANC and S. Sn-n~Ri%KiL. ?I4 pages. 1981. Springer-Verlag. DM 74 $34.50

‘I’surine in nutrition and neurology-edited by R. J. H[.x- ‘r~n~t- and H. PASA~TFS-MORAKFS. Advances in Experimen- tal Medicine and Biology. Volume t39. 531 pp. 1982. Plenum Press. New York. $59.50.

This volume comprises the published proceedings of a meeting held in Mexico in 1980. There are 7 major sections: Physiochemical properties of taurine: Taurinc in Nutrition and Development; Transport and metabolism of taurine; Taurine and the heart; Neurochemistry of taurine: Neuropharmacology of taurine: Discussions on taurine.

Taurine is more acidic than B alanine. It can form direct complexes with calcium and zinc. Taurine concentrations are high in the developing brain and then decrease. Humans have little ability to synthesise taurine, and obtain it as infants from milk. At the beginning of lactation it is the most abundant amino acid in milk comprising 20°; of the total free amino acids. At the weaning stages rats obtain more of their taurine by endogenous synthesis than from milk. Guinea-pigs can synthesise their taurine re- quirements whilst cats have little biosynthetic ability for tautine. Cats maintained on a laurine deficient diet show retinal degeneration.

Though much attention is paid to the reabsorption of water and salts by the kidney; the reabsorption of amino acids. fatty acids, hormones, peptides, vitamins and the elimination of uric acid. urea, creatinrne. are also import- ant tasks of the kidney. This volume of reviews h! 29 authors provides a clear balanced account of the present state of the subject and the problems that have still to be solved. From a comparative view there is much of interest in this volume. For example dogs can provide a good model of cystinuria. and mice a model system for tauri- nuria. Table I below (taken from the review by Dantrler on comparative physiology of renal transport of organic solutes) compares the tubular transport in birds. reptiles. amphibians and fish (p. 291).

A highly re~omnl~nded volume.

Cuticle techniques in arthropods-edited by T. A. MILLER. Springer Series in Experimental Entomology. 410 pp. 1980. Springer, New York. DM 114, USS67.10

Cats depend on taurine in their diet. This taurine has to be transported into cells. Deficiencies in taurine across membranes can be found in some cases of epilepsy. Fried- rrich’s ataxia and genetic myocardiopathy. Taurine is the most abundant free amino acid in the heart. In the rat heart its concentration is four times higher than that of free glutamate. It stabilises the membrane potential. modulates the rlTect of calcium, has a positive ionotropic effect and if given orally can ameliorate the effects on genetic cardio- myopathy in hamsters.

it is dolibtful if taurine is a ne~lrotransmitter. It is more likely a nloduiator. In the retina whilst light,‘dark rapidly a&cts the GABA levels it takes several weeks to get

This volume continues the high standard set by preceding 4 VOlUmeS in this series (NeUroph!sio/oyilcII 7~hiquas.

Neurohorwotxd Tecirt~iqurs. ~~l~r#u~urot~li~,u~ Techniques.

~~~}l~~j~i~ A4rri~od.s). The topics dealt with are as follows. ~~echanical testing of cuticle (Hepburn 6t Chandler): Opti- cal methods (Neville): Ultrastructure methods (Locke & Hmel; Biochemical methods (Hackman): Cuticuiar sclero- tizatlon (Andersen); Lipids (Gilbyt: Tissue culture (Ober- lander). Electrical methods (Scheie). Water relation tech- niques (Loveridge); Penetration of cuticle hy inscctlcides (Lewis). Each chapter starts with a general introduction and then gives details of the methods for carrying out the required techniques. Full references are given at the end of each chapter. The volume will he very useful to research workers and will also provide projecls for graduate stu- dents.

Table 1. Normal direction of net tubular transport

Substance

Birds Reptiles Amphibians Fishes Net Net Net Net Net Net Net Net

absorption secretion absorption secretion absorption secretion absorption secretion

Amino acids + + + + i- + Urea f :‘+ + + + + + Glucose + + + + f Organic acids (except amino acids, uric acid. and lactate) + + + + -I- LJric acid + + + Lactate +