74. 



\l R0( KSTEIN, ed. l l >73. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF INSECTA. 2nd edit. Vol. I 

 Academic Press, New York. etc. XVI, 512 pp., 107 figs., 25 tabs., author and subject 

 indexes. S 38.00 



Contents: 1. Biology of the Insecta (Rockstein, 7 pp.); 2. Reproduction (de Wilde and 

 de Loot", 85 pp.); 3. Reproduction - Endocrine control (de Wilde and de Loof, 

 62 pp.); 4 Physiological and biochemical changes during insect development (Agrell 

 and Lundquist, C M pp.); 5. Physiology of growth and development: endocrine aspects 

 (Gilbert and King, 121 pp.); 6 Aging in Insects (Rockstein and Miquel, 108 pp) 



Hie first edition of this collaborative treatise appeared in three volumes in 1964. It has 

 now been expanded to six volumes, of which we only review the first. Of the five major 

 chapters in his volume, only ch. 5 has been updated until 1972, the others no further 

 than 1971. Nevertheless, they are all competent, readable, and comprehensive (though 

 not exhaustive) reviews, and are particularly useful as a guide to the specialized literature. 



Only one chapter is somewhat disappointing, that by Agrell and Lundquist. One does 

 not expect complete coverage of morphogenesis and pattern formation in a book on 

 insect physiology. However, since the authors do treat some of the classical material on 

 these subjects, it is surprising how inadequately they cover the modern literature, particu- 

 larly the many recent advances made with techniques such as somatic crossing-over, 

 nuclear transplantation, and transplantation of imaginal disc fragments. The more is the 

 pity since imaginal discs are (understandably) only cursorily treated in chapter 5. It is also 

 surprising that important books such as that by Chen (1971) and the series edited by 

 Counce and Waddington (1972) are not mentioned. 



The book is well produced and adequately illustrated. It is regrettable that no titles are 

 given in the reference lists. 



80. 



P.S.TIMIRAS. 1972. DEVELOPMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY AND AGING 



Macmillan, New York; Collier-Macmillan, London. XII, 692 pp., 183 figs., 72 tabs., sub- 

 ject index. £ 9.95 



Contents: I Physiology of development; 1. General considerations; 2. Gametogenesis 

 and fertilization; 3. Sex determination and sex-linked inheritance; 4. Heredity; 

 5. Course of pregnancy, early embryonic stages, and differentiation; 6. Hormones of 

 pregnancy: placental, fetal, and maternal; 7. Fetal and maternal membranes, and 

 placental physiology; 8. Fetal circulation and metabolism; 9. Development and plas- 

 ticity of the nervous system; 10. Labor and delivery: their effects on the fetus and the 

 newborn; 1 1. Respiratory and circulatory changes after birth; 12. Gastrointestinal 

 function; thermoregulatory and metabolic adjustments; 13. Developmental aspects of 

 immunity; 14. Development of kidney function; 15. Body growth; 16. Regulatory 

 action of hormones on growth; 17. Development and maturation of gonadal function; 

 18. Physiologic changes at adolescence; 19. Factors affecting growth and development; 

 II Physiology of aging: 20. General considerations; 21. Nature of aging processes; 

 22. Degenerative changes in cells and cell death; 23. Aging of tissues: alterations in 

 collagen and immune system; 24. Diseases of aging; 25. Cardiovascular alterations with 

 age: atherosclerosis; 26. Structural, biochemical, and functional aging of the nervous 

 system; 27. Changes in gonadal function; 28. Decline in homeostatic regulation; 

 29. Theories of aging; 30. Aging of and in populations; 31. Factors affecting aging: 

 pharmacologic agents 



This book is the first of its kind to appear. It is particularly useful for students, 

 perhaps somewhat less so for specialists in some areas. The emphasis is on human biology. 

 Several laudatory reviews have already appeared, so that we will restrict ourselves mainly 

 to printing the table of contents and a quotation from the preface: 



The selections of topics presented herein have been made with a threefold purpose: 

 200 



