Humana Handbook of Neurotoxicology: Volume I: 1

Neurotoxicology is a broad and burgeoning field of research. Its growth in recent years can be related, in part, to increased interest in and concern with the fact that a growing number of anthropogenic agents with neurotoxic potential, including pesticides, lead, mercury, and the polytypic bypro ducts of combustion and industrial production, continue to be spewed into and accumulate in the environment. In addition, there is great interest in natural products, including toxins, as sources of therapeutic agents. Indeed, it is well known that many natural toxins of broadly differing structure, produced or accumulated for predatory or defensive purposes, and toxic agents, accumulated incidentally by numerous species, function to perturb nervous tissue. Components of some of these toxins have been shown to be useful therapeutic agents and/or research reagents. Unfor tunately, the environmental accumulation of some neurotoxic ants of anthropogenic ori gin, especially pesticides and metals, has resulted in incidents of human poisoning, some of epidemic proportion, and high levels of morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, an increasing incidence of neurobehavioral disorders, some with baffling symptoms, is confronting clinicians. It is not clear whether this is merely the result of increased vigi lance and/or improved diagnostics or a consequence of improved health care. In any case, the role of exposure to environmental and occupational neurotoxic ants in the etiology of these phenomena, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, is coming under increasing scrutiny and investigation. Review "Both volumes are laid out attractively...and contain much valuable information on the pharmacological aspects of neurotoxicology, as well as state-of-the-art methodology." Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologies From the Back Cover Neurotoxins-whether human-generated pollutants or natural products-have recently attracted growing scientific interest. In the Handbook of Neurotoxicology, Volumes I and II, many leading researchers and clinicians-all acknowledged experts-review in depth the status of research in key areas of current neurotoxicologic interest and examine the latest methodologies for in vivo assessment of a wide spectrum of agents exhibiting neurotoxicologic properties. This first volume of the Handbook focuses on the biological effects of human-made neurotoxins, as well as those of natural origin, which so often provide valuable therapeutics and research reagents. Topics range from anticholinesterase insecticides and pesticides that target ion channels, to such metals as mercury, lead, zinc, and to the polytypic byproducts of combustion and industrial manufacture. The natural toxins discussed include those of microbial origin (microbial, marine, clostridial, and botulilinal neurotoxins), as well as those of animal origin (snake, spider, and scorpion venoms). Volume II concentrates on the biological effects of human-made toxins on the developing nervous system, reviews the neuronal impact of drugs of abuse, and provides state-of-the-art methods for the evaluation of the biological effects of neurotoxicants by both imaging and neurobehavioral assessment. Up-to-date and timely, the Handbook of Neurotoxicology, Volumes I and II, not only affords today's biomedical and clinical investigators a full panoply of knowledge in all the critical areas of current neurotoxicologic interest, but also illuminates the latest methodologies for assessing the effects of a broad spectrum of significant neurotoxicological agents.