The cytochemical bioassay system was described in a short abstract in 1971, and more fully, in the cytochemical bioassay of corticotrophin, in 1972. Since then, cytochemical bioassays have been described for several polypeptide hormones, and these assays are already widely used. It is expedient that the subject should be reviewed, as it is in this monograph, by one writer who has had the good fortune to have taken part in the growth of cytochemistry from its early origins to its present position as the basis of possibly the most sensitive bioassay system currently available. However, it should be noted that major contributions have been made by many, both to the development of the subject and to the establishment of the bioassays. The object of this preface is to try to give some perspective to the growth of this subject and to record that the cytochemical bioassay system has been fostered by many outstanding scientists in an atmosphere of remarkable goodwill. To begin with, there could have been no cytochemical bioassays until cytochem istry had been converted from its rather unsure origins into a precise and quantitative form of cellular biochemistry. This was done with skill and enthusiastic dedication by my colleagues, Dr. Lucille Bitensky, Dr. F. P. Altman, Dr. R. G. L. W. Poulter and Mr. A. A. Silcox, first at the Royal College of Butcher, Dr.
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Illustrationen
10
10 s/w Abbildungen
XIV, 208 p. 10 illus.
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-3-642-81459-4 (9783642814594)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-642-81459-4
Schweitzer Klassifikation
1. Nature of Cytochemistry.- A. Definitions and Origins.- B. Relationship Between Cytochemistry and Biochemistry.- 2. Basic Concepts of Hormone Assays.- A. Two Ways of Assaying a Biologically Active Molecule.- B. Radio-immunoassay.- C. Drawback of the Analytical Approach.- D. The Need for Microbioassays.- 3. Introduction to Cytochemical Bioassay.- A. Criteria for Bioassays.- B. Cytochemical Bioassays.- C. Special Features of Cytochemical Bioassays.- IV. Physiological Studies.- 4. Maintenance Culture.- A. Importance of Organ Culture.- B. Earlier Use of Organ Culture.- C. Maintenance Culture as Used in Cytochemical Bioassays.- 5. Cytochemical Methods.- A. Basic Procedures.- C. Cytochemical Investigation of Lysosomal Function.- 6. Microdensitometry.- A. Development of Microspectrophotometry.- B. Microdensitometry.- 7. The Segment Assay of the Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone.- A. Rationale.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay of ACTH.- 8. The Section Assay of Adrenocorticotrophin.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Section Assay of ACTH.- C. Validation.- 9. Application of Cytochemical Bioassays of Adrenocorticotrophin.- A. Physiological Studies.- B. Advantages of a Very Sensitive Assay.- C. Insulin-Hypoglycaemia Test of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Function.- 10. The Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- C. Cytochemical Section Assay of Thyroid Stimulators.- D. A Possible Mechanism for the Action of Thyroid Stimulators.- E. Influence of Thyrotrophin on Oxidative Metabolism.- 11. Luteinizing Hormone.- A. Background Information.- B. Cytochemical Bioassay of Luteinizing Hormone.- 12. Gastrin-like Activity.- A. Background.- B. Cytochemical Segment Assay.- C. Cytochemical Section Assay.- D.Validation.- E. Physiological Studies.- 13. Parathyroid Hormone.- A. Background Information.- B. Cytochemical Bioassay of Parathyroid Hormone.- 14. Hypophysiotrophic Hormones: Two-Step Bioassays.- A. Background.- B. Thyrotrophin-Releasing Hormone.- C. Corticotrophin-Releasing Factor.- 15. Prospects: Uses of the Cytochemical Bioassay System.- A. Bioassay of Hormones.- B. Cytochemistry as Cellular Chemical Pathology.- C. Study of Biologically Active Molecules.- D. Conclusion.- Appendix 1. Maintenance Culture.- Appendix 2. Microdensitometry with the Viekers M85 Microdensitometer.- Appendix 3. Main Cytochemical Reactions Used in These Assays.- Appendix 4. Dilution of the Standard Reference Preparations.- References.
