A. Oksche - Böcker

spezifischer) oder glioser (interstitieller) Art ist ...Die Erfahrung lehrt, daB gerade das inter- stitielle Gewebe einer der hiiufigsten Sitze krankhafter Veriinderungen, z. B. fettiger Degenera- tion, Induration, Proliferation ist. " Mit dieser grundsatzlichen Bemerkung wird RUDOLF VmCHOW zum Begrnnder einer systematischen Pathologie der Neuroglia. Er eroifnet - 1856 als Ordi- narius fUr Pathologie nach Berlin zUrUckgekehrt - hiermit die vorklassische, man kann vergleichsweise sagen, archaische Epoche der N europathologie - archa- isch, weil die Methoden der Gewebsaufbereitung und der histologischen Darstel- lung damals noch ganz primitiv waren - erst wenige Jahre spater kam die Carmin- farbung in Mode. WEIGERT bemerkt deshalb mit Bewunderung, daB VmcHow in wesentlichen Punkten trotz der Primitivitat der Methoden das Richtige traf. Das spricht fiir den Scharfsinn des Forschers VmcHow und fiir seine weit iiber die bloBe Beobachtungsgabe hinausreichende Erkenntnisfahigkeit.Wir stehen aber 1846 in Berlin nicht nur am Orte der Entdeckung der Neuro- glia und am Ausgangspunkte einer danach allmahlich beginnenden Erforschung ihrer Orthologie und Pathologie, sondern zugleich auch am Beginn einer wissen- schaftlichen Diskussion, die von VmCHow in seiner ersten Neuroglia-Studie bereits in Gang gesetzt wird und die weit iiber die klassische Epoche der Neuropathologie und Neuroanatomie hinaus bis in die letzten Jahre hinein lebendig und in vielen Punkten unentschieden geblieben ist. VmcHOW glaubte namlich damals - wie KOELLIKER, FRoMANN und spater in der klassischen Zeit der Neuropathologie noch NISSL, ALZHEIMER und SPIELMEYER -, ein syncytiales Gliareticulum dar- gestellt zu haben.

The anatomical description of the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, as presented in this treatise, is by no means of definitive nature. Research in this area, in our own laboratories and elsewhere, continues at such a pace and is sufficiently in flux as to preclude the possibility of definitive morphological and functional conclu- sions at this time. Nevertheless, we do believe that there is now some genuinely heuristic value in a presentation of our neuroanatomical material. Most of this material is derived from the above-mentioned species which has received primary attention in our experimental investigations. In the course of our studies, it has become clear that the hypothalamo- hypophysial system of birds has attained morphological differentiation and spe- cialization as extensive as that of mammals. In order not to lose sight of the basic pattern of the system, comparative aspects must be brought into con- sideration. With this in mind we emphasize the fundamental contributions of Huber and Crosby, Kuhlenbeck, Benoit, Assenmacher and vVingstrand.The ana- tomical nomenclature of the avian hypothalamus has been critically examined and rationalized, to the extent possible, from a comparative view-point. In recent years this nomenclature has developed in such an independent and isolated manner that the confusion created can no longer be ignored. 'Ve dedicate our treatise to the memory of Professor Ernst Scharrer who originally stimulated our investigations.

This volume on the evolutionary aspects of neuro-endocrinology is based on contributions from the 7th International Symposium on Neurosecretion, which took place in Leningrad, on August 15-21, 1976. The book deals with three major approaches in elucidating the general evolutionary events responsible for the structure and function of neurosecretory elements: (1) phylogenetic development of neurosecretory elements and their function, (2) ontogenetic development of neurosecretory elements and their function, and (3) the role of neuroendocrine mechanisms in realizing species adaptation, i.e., mechanisms causing the evolutionary process. Half of the chapters deal with evolutionary aspects. The majority of them are concerned with the role of different types of neurosecretory cells in the regulation of homeostasis and of the function of endocrine glands, primarily that of the adenohypophysis. The other half are concerned with various aspects of neurosecretion,featuring two main problems: (1) investigation of neural and hormonal mechanisms regulating the function of neurosecretory cells and neurosecretory centers as a whole, and (2) investigation of the role of neurosecretory systems in the regulation of adaptive reactions of the organism.