Fundamentals of Immunology
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terminals have come under greater scrutiny. Vesicles and apparent choline-sterase particles are seen at many nerve endings or in juxtaposed cells. Physical events that precede the development of the receptor generator potential comprise much of the material presented in another section of the symposium. For example, in a study of Pacinian endings, deprived of their capsules, the linear output depends upon the rate of change of stress applied to the ending. Problems concerned with the interpretation of s'uchl studies are amply discussed. It was observed that encapsulation of Pacinian endings may serve as a screen against elastic deformation so that only viscous changes activate the receptor. which would account for the short adaptation and second-order response. The "on" and "off" characteristics of these and other receptors are presented in some detail. Receptor membrane studies include aspects of hyperpolarization, depolarization, antidromic invasion. refractory period, temporal and spatial summation. Firing patterns in receptors come under close observation in terms of their effectiveness as a population of responses. This is important to the accounting for the specificity of action and the nature of the integration of sensory events. Dentinal, thermoceptive and mechanoreceptive units are evaluated for their dynamic characteristics. A concept of "integration across neural space" is developed, and this leads into the final section of the symposium. This last section deals with possible ways in which the population of peripheral responses could be scanned and interpreted by central mechanisms. This latest edition of Boyd's well-known text follows its immediate predecessor by 10 years, a period of great change in immunology. When the original edition appeared in 1943, it was a leading and authoritative monograph in a young field; however the area has burgeoned out in so many directions that it has outgrown the purview of a single author. It must, therefore. reflect strengths and weaknesses in different areas, and so it does. The opening chapter broaches the broad picture: "Immunity and Im1-munology." Unfortunately this chapter's discussion of phagocytosis, a process basic and vital to the whole problem, is archaic. The structure and function of the leucocyte granule or lysosoine, which have been investigated for several years, are not even mentioned. In contrast the second chapter. which introduces the reader to antibodies and to antibody specificity, provides an excellent introduction to the subject. Three chapters concerned with antigens, cell antigens, and blood groups follow, and the latter, while reflecting the strength and interest …