@Copyright 1986 by The Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved. 0734-600X/86/0401-0065 $02.00

The Neurobiology of Zinc

Part A. Physiochernistry, Anatomy, and Techniques

Part B. Deficiency, Toxicity, and Pathology

C. J. FREDERICKSON, G. A. HOWELL, AND E. J. KASARSKIS

Alan R. Liss, inc. New York, 1984, pp. 390 (Part A) $54.00 ISBN 0-8451-2712-8 and 345 (Part B), $.58.00 ISBN 0-8451-2713-6

Forty-seven dense, compact communications, the result of a Symposium on Zinc Neurobiology that was held in Boston in November, 1983 under the aegis of the Society for Neuroscience, have been published in two volumes. Part A deals with physiochemistry, anatomy, and techniques. Part B embodies presentations related to: deficiency, toxicity, and pathol- ogy. There are, in all, 88 contributors (Part A, 45; Part B, 43). It is a timely and state-of-the-art overview of the whole field of zinc neurobiology in just over 735 pages of well-set readable print.

To read these two volumes from cover to cover is mind boggling, and certainly very informative and rewarding. This reviewer hastens to support Anthony Watkinson, who recently pointed out (Nature 312, 210, 1984) that "the transformation of a transient three or four days of aca- demic exchange into an enduring collection of reviews can be an invalua- ble contribution to learning.'" The present volumes measure up to just that.

As stated in the preface to these fascinating volumes, the authors at- tempted and, indeed, achieved three main objectives. First, to provide a comprehensive report on the status of the field; second, to emphasize the diversity of neurobiological phenomena in which zinc may participate; and third, to acquaint the neuroscientist with the instrumental and histo- chemical techniques required for trace element research.

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66 Hasan

Each chapter deals with a specific subject in an organized fashion. The strongest point of these volumes is that the current literature is referred to as each topic of the controversy is outlined. Much of the knowledge is new and of clinical importance. On the scientific side, the fundamental reasons for the new data are the more modern techniques of the specialty. It is a truism that scientific fields progress no faster than their methods allow.

The chapter on PIXE "Use of Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission for As- saying Brain Zinc," by Barnard and Chafetz, gives an excellent overview of the basic principles and techniques. The simultaneous multi-element analysis capabilities make the technique particularly adaptable to neuroscience studies of element correlations with organism behavior. It is apparent that PIXE has passed through its demonstration stage and matured into a viable tool supported by a reliable physics data base. However, one should like to repeat the caution that minimum detection limits are strongly influenced by the nuclear reaction X-ray background from trace elements in the specimen. Also, precision in analytic meas- ures cannot remedy errors in the selection or preparation of samples.

It is good to note that stable isotope tracer methods, laser microprobe mass spectrometry for microanalysis of cellular zinc, and iso- tope dilution assays of CNSAzinc have been lucidly described and dis- cussed. But this reviewer was disappointed that the in vivo neutron acti- vation technique escaped the attention it richly deserved in view of its immense usefulness for both clinical diagnosis and therapy evaluation.

Emerging roles of zinc ions in neuronal transmission have been ade- quately discussed by Chung and Assaf, but the modes of interaction be- tween zinc ions and postsynaptic receptors, presynaptic terminals, and transmitter molecules remain to be investigated.

The possibility of using nontoxic chelating agents like diethyldithio- carbamate to manipulate synaptic transmission presents arather promis- ing model to evaluate the significance of the vesicle-located zinc. An in- teresting chapter on the cognition-zinc relationship by Tucker and Sandstead lends useful insight into the clinical neuropsychological status of zinc deficiency. Several important aspects of interactions between al- cohol and zinc and relationships between trimethyltin and zinc were brought to light in Part B. The epileptogenic effect of zinc has also been thoroughly discussed by several authors, and the use of very high doses of zinc injected intracerebrally has been questioned.

Interestingly, Hershey et al. have reported little correlation between Alzheimer type dementia and cerebrospinal fluid zinc levels. The authors have cautioned that there seems to be no justification for the administra- tion of zinc to demented or aging individuals. The two volumes contain an interesting compilation of scientifically stimulating articles and "Sum- maries of the General Discussion." Despite the varied origins of the con- tributors, the style is uncluttered and readable. It is an up-to-date sum- mary of important advances in the field of zinc neurobiology. The book

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Book Review 67

admirably fulfills its intention of providing helpful accounts of contem- porary status of the field. The text reads well and has sufficient seasoning of references at appropriate places. The literature cited is complete until 1983. Illustrations, tables, and histograms are presented and printed clearly, which adds to the excellent quality of the book. The editors and publisher have done a good job in putting together these attractive volumes. It is a pleasure to recommend this book to both experimental and clinical neuroscientists, junior and senior investigators alike. Clini- cians, epidemiologists, neuropathologists, neuroanatomists, neuro- physiologists, neurochemists, and behavioral scientists will all find something useful and important concerning zinc neurobiology in these two volumes.

Mahdi Hasan Dept. of Human Anatomy J. N. Medical College Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (U.P.) 202001 INDIA

l'qeurochemical Pathology Vol. 4, 1985