Abstract
“I am not a smart man” is an utterance made famous by Tom Hanks in the title role of Forrest Gump. I admit to feeling that way myself at times, especially when I am reviewing a textbook that doesn't have the word “Atlas” in the title.
But if textbooks are measured by their success at condensing important information on a particular subject into a usable format, then The Role of Glia in Neurotoxicity, 2nd edition gets a gold star from me. All neuroscientists and any anatomic pathologists that make their living evaluating toxicities of the central and peripheral nervous systems are going to find the book valuable.
The emphasis of this book is not morphologic pathology, but rather the various mechanisms that may injure or alter glial cells and the associated neuronal interactions that may lead to neurotoxicity. The bulk of the text is devoted to astrocytes and microglial cells. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are occasionally mentioned (there is a specific chapter on Schwann cells that is excellent) but not emphasized.
This book makes effective use of classic examples and models of neurotoxicity, including lead, alcohol, mercury and MPTP. Since most pathologists are familiar with the microscopic changes associated with these neurotoxicities, it is easier to understand how various effects on glial cells are manifested morphologically. Chapter 1, which details CNS precursor cell biology and glial cell lineage, although difficult to read through, is particularly useful in understanding mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity.
The numerous diagrams and illustrations are relatively easy to understand but there are fewer images of morphology than most pathologists would like. All chapters are well referenced and the editors have done a commendable job of assembling a diverse group of authors.
To my knowledge, this text represents the most concise and readable knowledge base of glial cell research applicable to the pathologist.
The only criticism I have of the text is its overall size. All pathology textbooks eventually become obsolete and when that happens, I like to use them to prop up my microscope. At 7 × 10 inches, this book is a bit small to be an effective prop. But, I guess I can keep using those old editions of Jubb and Kennedy.