Release Date: 15 December, 1999
Hardcover
|
Tomoyuki Takahashi, Nature, January 6, 2000
The author is a leading scientist in research fields ranging from cellular to system neorphysiology, and the first half of his book introduces readers to classic electro-physiological findings on chemical transmission, many of which cannot be found in general textbooks....Despite the book's personal nature, it successfully reveals the current state of synaptic research and the direct approaches that have been used to build this up. It should therefore attract a wide audience, particularly those interested in listening to nature directly rather that passively accepting current paradigms.
Book Description
The squid giant synapse has historically been the best model for investigating synaptic transmission. This book gives a concise overview of all that has been learned from this model. Ideal for graduate and undergraduate courses, the book includes PC and Macintosh versions of a program for simulating and manipulating any aspect of synaptic transmission.
Book Info
New York Univ., New York City. Concise overview of current knowledge about synaptic transmission in this model system. Covers the biophysics of the voltage-dependent calcium currents, calcium concentration microdomains, and much of the molecular basis for the triggering of the secretory event. For graduate and undergraduate students and researchers. Rating 5.0
Synaptic TransmissionReview of "The Squid Giant Synapse" a model for chemical transmission" by Rodolfo R. Llinas. It was a pleasure to read this small book because Professor Llinas has managed to review his work and that of others within 160 pages. Llinas has written a very readable book that traces the history of transmission at the synapse. He has covered this difficult subject synthesizing ultrastructure, electrophysiology and molecular biology. The writer has been prominent in this field for 30 years and the book reflects his deep understanding of the subject. Dr. Llinas has managed to incorporate the major findings of some 500 papers into a working hypothesis of synaptic transmission. In spite of the complexity of the subject there are few errors. On page 65 microdomains should be in square microns and not square millimeters but this typographical error should be obvious when looking at Figure 3.2G and Plate 8. This little book is a must for graduate students and neuroscientists in general because it serves as both a starting reference and as a working text. The index is very helpful to find definitions used in the field (a glossary would be helpful). The soft ware shows the relationship of the presynaptic calcium current and postsynaptic voltage. This program will be instructive to students in understanding the importance of calcium dependencies on transmitter release. The Squid Giant Synapse should be a companion with Nerve, Muscle and Synapse by B.Katz and The Physiology of Synapses by J.C. Eccles. |
|
