The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology [Hardcover]

Jack R. Cooper (Author), Floyd E. Bloom (Author), Robert H. Roth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2002

This classic text gives a uniquely lucid and lively view of neurotransmitters, their role in nervous system function, and their involvement in the mechanisms of psychiatric drug action. For three decades it has served as an essential guide for students of neuroscience and psychopharmacology, residents in psychiatry and neurology, and clinicians and scientists. Both authoritative and very readable, it has been thoroughly updated for each edition. In the Eighth Edition more space is devoted to clinical examples, subclasses of receptors that provide targets for new drugs, molecular genetics, the major problem of drug delivery to the brain, and the growing recognition of nicotinic receptors in the brain and their possible involvement in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In addition, the book's format has been enlarged and a second color added to many of the illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From Reviews of Previous Editions:

"Recommended without reservation to students, physicians, and scientists who seek a lucid survey of the biochemical basis of neuronal regulatory systems in the brain."--The New England Journal of Medicine

"The best introductory text available for those who want to learn about the application of biochemical approaches to the study of neurotransmitter and drug actions in the nervous system."--Brain

"This now classic monograph...remains a clear and concise guide...Should be mandatory reading for all medical students, psychiatry residents, graduate students in neuroscience and pharmacology, and is even useful for undergraduate students..."--Contemporary Psychiatry

About the Author

Jack R. Cooper is at Yale University, School of Medicine (Emeritus). Floyd E. Bloom is at The Scripps Clinic and Research Institute.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 8 edition (October 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195140079
• ISBN-13: 978-0195140071
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,936,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introductory glimpse of neuropharmacology, October 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology (Paperback)

This book is an excellent introductory text, suitable for undergraduates or "outsiders", outlining the basic principles of neuropharmacology. Reviews of the major concepts involved in neurotransmission are included in the first half of the book, such as cellular and molecular (read DNA) biological basics as well as descriptions of amino acid based neurotransmission. The second half of the book is organized with each chapter devoted to a single molecule. My major criticism is that although the title is "The BIOCHEMICAL Basis of Neuropharmacology", the chemistry in the text is rather simple and incomplete, and the lack of quantitative discussion of pharmacokinetics is a major disappointment. All beginning students of neuropharmacology should purchase this book - in paperback it is truly a bargain. END

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neuropharmacology, November 26, 2000

By 

Howard Schneider (Thornhill, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology (Paperback)

This reference is easy to read. As well, unlike most pharmacology texts, this one does not concentrate on drugs, but rather on the underlying physiology. There is an introduction to neurons, synapses and action potentials. There is an introduction to modern molecular methods. It is interesting to note that in describing molecular cloning methods, the work of J. G. Sutcliffe, R.J. Milner, and F.E. Bloom is reported whereby a cDNA library was prepared from mRNAs from whole rat brain, then it was seen what individual cDNAs hybridized with the mRNAs from rat liver and kidney. Approximately 30,000 of the brain's 50,000 mRNAs were not detected in the liver or kidney, showing that much of the rat's DNA is for neuronal purposes. In the introduction to receptors, it is noted that there about a thousand known receptors to neurotransmitters, hormones and odorants. The introduction to neuromodulators includes the neuronal effects of nitric oxide (thought to be involved in both long-term potentiation LTP and long-term depression LTD; nitric oxide synthase inhibitors will block NMDA receptor activation). The chapter on amino acid neurotransmitters includes excitatory glutamate and aspartate, and inhibitory GABA, glycine, alanine, cystathionine and serine. There are chapters on cholinergic (acetylcholine) and catecholaminergic (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) neurotransmitters. Serotonin and histamine neurotransmitters are considered in detail in the next chapter. There is an introduction to neuroactive peptides, noting that they must be synthesized on ribosomes, then at the smooth endoplasmic reticulum they are put into vesicles in a prohormonal form, and only then transported to the nerve terminals. The book concludes with introductions to the cellular mechanisms involved in learning, and the involvement of neurotransmitters in neurological and psychiatric illnesses.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Succeeded by 'Intro to Neuropsychopharmacology", January 10, 2010

By 

M. Moore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology (Paperback)

This classic text has been replaced by 'Intro to Neuropsychopharmacology', by 2 of the same authors, also published by Oxford University Press (Iverson, Iverson, Cooper, Bloom; Nov. 2008).