Gino Toffano – författare

It is increasingly evident that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which in the past were often believed to be mere components of cellular membranes of neural tissue, are actually major determinants of the functional properties of neural cells and are intimately involved in brain disease processes. The two families of PUF A, which are derived from the essential polyenes, linoleic (18:26) and a-linolenic (18:33) acids, constitute a major proportion (-30%) of the total fatty acids esterified to brain phospholipids. Each family is distributed in membranes in a highly specific manner with respect to brain region, cell type, and position within each of the phosphoglycerides. Unlike their behavior in other organs, the PUF A components of brain turn over slowly and are relatively resistant to dietary modification. Their unique distribution and stability suggest that they play an important role in determining the functional properties of neural cells. However, until recently very little was known regarding the precise nature of their involvement.

It is increasingly evident that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which in the past were often believed to be mere components of cellular membranes of neural tissue, are actually major determinants of the functional properties of neural cells and are intimately involved in brain disease processes. The two families of PUF A, which are derived from the essential polyenes, linoleic (18:26) and a-linolenic (18:33) acids, constitute a major proportion (-30%) of the total fatty acids esterified to brain phospholipids. Each family is distributed in membranes in a highly specific manner with respect to brain region, cell type, and position within each of the phosphoglycerides. Unlike their behavior in other organs, the PUF A components of brain turn over slowly and are relatively resistant to dietary modification. Their unique distribution and stability suggest that they play an important role in determining the functional properties of neural cells. However, until recently very little was known regarding the precise nature of their involvement.

The purpose of this book is to describe the latest findings relating to biochemical and molecular pharmacology of the nervous system and phospholipids and to report the proceedings of the fourth symposium on phospholipids. These Symposia have been satellite meetings of the International Society for Neurochemistry. This meeting was held on May 26-29, 1985 in the Teatro Bibiena in Mantova, Italy. Preceding meetings were held in Cortona, Italy in 1975, in Birmingham, England in 1981, and in British Columbia, Canada in 1983. As was the case for the proceedings of those meetings, this volume presents information that is new and important from the researchers most in­ volved in advancing our knowledge of the function of membranes and of lipid metabo­ lism in the nervous system. The presence of phosphorus in the brain was reported in 1719 by Hensing at the University of Giessen in Germany. Tower! has translated this pioneering work. The rather long, philosophical preface contains the following paragraph. Regardless of what may be thought of this matter, the brain is certainly that part of the animate body in which that subtlest and most penetrating [substance] alone is received, so often circulated from the heart and cleansed by the remaining viscera, and firmly held where thereaf­ ter life flourishes and the motions of the lower parts endure.