Structure and Function of Membranes

As stated in the introduction by R. A. Peters, the purpose of this issue of the British Medical Bulletin "is to present a cross section of the research now in progress in this field of membranes." Although the coverage of the field is by no means complete, this purpose is achieved reasonably well in a series of short and concise reviews by investigators who are actively working on the problems they discuss. Various aspects of the structure and function of both cytoplasmic and plasma membranes are considered. The general areas discussed include chemistry and ultrastructure of membranes together with consideration of possible molecular organization, immuno-logical reactions and effects of pharmacologically active compounds, some aspects of transport across plasma membranes and mitochondrial membranes , and membrane function in excitable tissues. The articles are not, by and large, detailed expositions in the field, but are designed to provide an up-to-date summary of the current status of a variety of problems, and most include a selection of references adequate to guide the interested reader to more detailed information. I do not, however, mean to imply that the articles are elementary; a novice in the field will find some of them rather difficult and perhaps too concise, but they can serve as a guide for further reading and to a better understanding of some of the important aspects of the role of membranes in cellular function. Those interested in a good summary of research in a fairly wide variety of areas relating to memilbranes will surely find this issue of the bulletin useful. The volume is composed of proceedings of a symposium on hypothalamic pituitary adrenal function held in London on the 22nd and 23rd of Febru-ary, 1967 under the joint sponsorship of the endocrine section of the Royal Society of Medicine, Ciba Horsham, and the Society for Endocrinology. The participants were basic scientists and clinical investigators who by invitation presented data obtained from a variety of experimental approaches in an endeavor to elucidate the interrelationships of this complex neuroendocrine system. Part I is primarily concerned with stimulation and inhibition of adreno-corticotrophin secretion by pituitaries of animal species. The questions of hypothalamic control, corticosteroid or ACTH negative and oestrogen positive feedback, extra hypothalamic inhibitory influences such as pineal and hind brain factors, the site of vasopressin action on ACTH secretion and the relation of stress-induced ACTH release to concomitant TSH secretion are examined in …