70. 



M.HAMBURGH and E . J . W. BARRINGTON, eds. 1971. HORMONES IN DEVELOP- 

 MENT 



Appleton-Century-Crofts , Meredith Corp., New York. XX, 85^ pp., 

 ^14 figs., 152 taos., comDlned author and subject Index. $ 33.00 



This Dook Is oased on a conference held at Nottingham Universi- 

 ty, England In Septemoer, I968, out many contributions have been 

 revised and updated and several new ones added. The 65 contribu- 

 tions (by 125 authors from 19 countries In all continents) pro- 

 vide a comprehensive overview of a field best characterized as 

 fetal endocrinology In a broad sense. Almost all contributions 

 review very recent and current research, so that the book as a 

 whole Is a reference work of great topical value. 



The book's coverage Is so broad that It Is Impossible to re- 

 view It In detail. Suffice It to say that the coverage Includes 

 mammals, birds, and some lower vertebrates, all the major hor- 

 mones and endocrine organs (with special emphasis on the thy- 

 roid), as well as some "growth factors" and a broad range of 

 target organs and enzyme systems whose development Is under hor- 

 monal control. The central nervous system In higher, and meta- 

 morphosis In lower vertebrates receive particular attention. 

 Several contributions deal with the hormonal control of gene ex- 

 pression and cell differentiation. The endocrinology of repro- 

 duction and gestation Is not considered, apart from sex differ- 

 entiation. 



The book Is well produced and well Illustrated. In vlevj of the 

 large number and great variety of the contributions It Is a pity 

 that no effort was made to group them Into sections. The table 

 of contents Is now difficult to use. 



71. 



U. STAVE, ed. 1970. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE PERINATAL PERIOD, 2 Vols. 

 Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York. XXXI, 1104 pp., 335 figs., 102 

 tabs., subject Indexes. $ 65.^5 the set 



Contents: Vol.1: I. Growth and physiologic changes at birth; 

 II. Respiration, circulation, and blood; III. Metabolism; 

 Vol.2: IV. Body fluids and renal function; V. Neuro-muscular 

 system; VI. Endocrine system; VII. Hypoxia neonatorum 



The editor of this multi-author treatise Is a German-born phy- 

 sician working In the United States, and he has brought together 

 a truly International band of authors: there are 22 Americans, 

 one Canadian, two Australians, and I6 authors from six continen- 

 tal European countries. Including Czechoslovakia and Hungary. 

 The book Is not only Intended for clinicians but for basic scien- 

 tists as well. The contributors have focussed on the preparations 

 for birth (In a broad sense), the birth process, the impact of 

 birth on the biological functions of the neonate, and the estab- 

 lishment of early postnatal homeostasis. Although the prime con- 

 cern is with the human species, liberal use is made of data ob- 

 tained with laboratory animals. 



The 35 chapters are grouped together In seven parts as shown 

 above. Most range in length between 20 and 50 pages, the longest 

 being those on respiration, circulation. Immunoglobulins, tem- 

 perature regulation, and the effect of oxygen deficiency on the 

 CNS (averaging 62 pages). All have extensive reference lists. 



The books are exceedingly well produced and illustrated. 



40 



