Trends in Enzyme Histochemistry and Cytochemistry


Book Description

The Novartis Foundation Series is a popular collection of the proceedings from Novartis Foundation Symposia, in which groups of leading scientists from a range of topics across biology, chemistry and medicine assembled to present papers and discuss results. The Novartis Foundation, originally known as the Ciba Foundation, is well known to scientists and clinicians around the world.




International Review of Cytology


Book Description

International Review of Cytology




Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Techniques


Book Description

Toxicological and pharmacological effects arise when chemicals interact with biophysiological functions in discrete cell types. There is a continuing need to screen novel compounds for their potential therapeutic effects, and once these have been "discovered" to understand their molecular actions, as the basis of using such compounds safely and for rational drug design. Pharmacology now uses all of the sophisticated molecular research techniques that are available for the development of safer and more efficacious drugs. Histochemistry has been usefully applied to developing new drugs (and assessing chemical safley) and is potentially cost effective. The need to test novel substances for their potential adverse effects has raised many questions. Toxicological pathology has moved away from the cataloging of lesions towards understanding the basis of the events that underly cell injury, especially for those secondary consequences of chemical injury that lead to malignancy and chronic disease. The focal nature of toxicologic lesions de mands the use of microtechniques to provide data to help understand these questions. Histochemistry is under-utilized, but offers one of the key ap proaches necessary to address the problem of understanding interactions between a cell population and a chemical, the modulation of cellular biochem istryor the presence of a lesion in a test animal can be rationalised in terms of species differences that have no relevance to man as opposed to those that are of clinical significance or represent a warning of dire consequences to man.




Theory and Strategy in Histochemistry


Book Description

If you want practical information on how to use this book please refer to "Note to the Readers" p. VII. Histochemistry and cytochemistry are essential tools in biomedical research and routine service laboratories. Most texts on histochemistry fall into one of two categories: 1. Encyclopaedic texts covering all or nearly all information available on the whole or selected parts of histochemistry. 2. Reviews or surveys of methods found to be useful by the author(s). While the former category often appeals to the more philosophically inclined reader, direct guidance on the selection of technique may be difficult to find. In contrast, the latter category are often excellent sources for details on how to perform a particular method with a reasonable chance of success. Consideration of the exact mechanism of staining, of possible reasons for failure, and of alternative techniques are, however, frequently lacking. This book is an introduction to the scientific basis of histochemistry and is intended to provide a background for the selection and development of appro priate methods. It is not a "cook book" and readers expecting exhaustive methodological descriptions will be disappointed. Although most ofthe contributors to this book would not describe themselves as histochemists, they have all at some time found it essential to develop a basic understanding of histochemistry. This book contains the information they would have greatly appreciated ready access to at that time.




Fluorescence Microscopy


Book Description

Fluorescence microscopy is used for studying the distribution of substances which are present in very small amounts, for example in living cells. This magnificent new work provides comprehensive cover of all aspects of fluorescence microscopy - including instrumentation, applications, and the history of the technique. The first volume deals with instrumentation and techniques for fluorescence microscopy, and includes a chapter on quantification and scanning. The second volume deals with the applications of fluorescence microscopy in many fields. It includes information on autofluorescence, and an invaluable appendix provides an alphabetical list of fluorochromes, giving information concerning chemical structure, fluorescence properties, applications and suitable filter combinations.




Enzyme Histochemistry


Book Description

The functional analysis of macromolecular structures in tissues and cells has been greatly enhanced by advances in histochemistry and cytochemistry. Enzyme histochemistry is becoming particularly important as new methods succeed in demonstrating and quantifying the activity of key regulatory enzymes. The specificity, precision, and reproducibility of enzyme histochemical methods are constantly improving. This practical laboratory handbook contains a selection of the most important enzyme histochemical techniques currently available for light microscopy. The methods included here were chosen because of their reliability and specificity, and all are clearly detailed in easy-to-follow protocols. The introductory chapter provides a good theoretical background to enzyme histochemistry, and the book will be of interest to all researchers in cell biology, pathology, biochemistry, and cell physiology.




Techniques in Neuroanatomical Research


Book Description

"Anatomy is the mother of physiology" - this statement was used to characterize the evolution of physiology from anato my as an independent science in the late nineteenth century. It had particular truth for neurophysiology, which started as functional neuroanatomy based on the observation of changes in behaviour after lesions of the nervous system both in ex perimental animals and in human patients. Today, anatomy may again be considered the mother of physiology; however, the meaning of this statement is rather different from that 100 years ago: The modem mother provides a dwelling for an increasing number of children endowed with new functional capabilities. This book provides a good illustration of such se mantic metamorphosis in the case of neuroanatomy. After a long period of little progress in either macroscopic neuroanatomy or neurohistology, during which the heritage of Cajal, Golgi, and others was developed and refined to yield a functional concept of the nervous system, the past two de cades have seen tremendous progress in methods applicable to the analysis of the nervous system. The new era was heralded by the introduction of the electron microscope to investigate the nervous system. This book is an impressive witness to the more recent developments.




Bone


Book Description

Bone: A Treatise is a series of seven volumes devoted to providing the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and authoritative coverage of all aspects of bone. Seventy-four chapters have been written by 127 respected authors, all of whom are actively engaged in basic, applied, and clinical bone research. The seven volumes in this unique series are organized thematically; each volume integrates structure, function, biochemistry, metabolism, and the molecular and clinical aspects of a particular aspect of the biology of bone. Bone-forming cells are treated in Volume I. Bone resorbing cells are covered in Volume II. Volumes III and IV examine the extracellular matrix of bone, with Volume III concentrating on the structure of bone matrix and on bone-specific proteins, while Volume IV focuses on the mineralization (calcification) of that matrix. Volume V addresses the repair and regeneration of bone. Volumes VI and VII explore bone growth and development.




Histochemistry


Book Description

Histochemistry: An Explanatory Outline of Histochemistry and Biophysical Staining describes the histochemical staining of cells and tissues as a major tool applied in biological and medical investigations, both in basic research and in practical applications such as clinical diagnosis. The book may be considered as a guide to understanding the scientific basis of staining procedures and alternate actions to take when common methods do not proceed as expected. The first chapter gives general theoretical ideas from which most part of the book is largely organized around. As the book considers the arts and crafts making up the practice of histochemistry and biological staining, emphasis is given to the common physicochemical aspects of the technically diverse methodologies involved. Hence, the author has drawn ideas and information from physicochemically and biochemically related fields, such as chromatography, pharmacology, photography, tanning, and textile dyeing. The bulk of the book is structured around groups of practical procedures, such as fixation, staining with dyestuffs, metal impregnation, and selective extraction as a test of significance. Lastly, general essays on the usefulness of staining theories and on the problems arising from reagent impurities are given as examples. The text is suitable for students and researchers in the fields of physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. Clinical laboratory scientists and those involved in the life sciences and biotechnology will benefit from reading the book.




Cytochemical Bioassays


Book Description

Cytochemical Bioassays: Techniques and Clinical Applications describes the techniques and clinical applications of cytochemical bioassays, particularly with respect to polypeptide hormones. This book discusses the clinical and research implications of studies that use these techniques. This text is comprised of 14 chapters; the first of which introduces the reader to the origins and general principles of cytochemical bioassays, along with their advantages. This discussion is followed by a chapter that explains what is meant by ""an assay""; for what purpose assays are done; the basic components of an assay method; and the nature of the difference between in vivo and in vitro hormone bioassays, in vitro ligand assays, and enzyme assays. Attention then turns to the techniques of cytochemical bioassays and the cytochemical bioassay procedures for adrenocorticotropic hormones; thyroid-stimulating hormones; the thyroid-stimulating antibody of Graves' disease; thyroid growth stimulating and blocking immunoglobulins; and luteinizing hormones. The next chapters focus on the technique and clinical relevance of a cytochemical bioassay for gastrin-like activity and for measurement of antidiuretic hormones, parathyroid hormones, angiotensin II, natriuretic hormones, and hypothalamic regulating hormones. This book will be of interest to clinicians and practitioners of biology, biochemistry, and endocrinology.