More than ever, the introduction of new methods or techniques serves to stimulate progress into understanding the structure and function of the nervous system. This axiom is exemplified by recent techniques that have revolutionized several branches of neurochemistry and promise to remain dominant for many years. Such developments underscore the need to remain abreast of new research strategies and provide further justification for the present series. The use of high performance liquid chromatography combined with bioassay methods provides a powerful technique for iso- lation and assay of...

With the continued rapid expansion of neurochemical research, there has been no shortage of new developments in methodology for this third volume of Research Methods in Neurochemistry. As in previous volumes we have again tried to provide some balance in the subjects represented. The wisdom of this policy may be questioned since it can lead to delay in publica tion, but there are many approaches to the chemical study of the nervous system and a methods book needs to stand on its own as well as be part of a series. In one respect, however, the present volume departs from this policy, in that...

On picking up this first volume of a new series of books the reader may ask the two questions: (a) why research methods? and (b) why in neurochem istry? The answers to these questions are easy - they more than justify the volumes to come and show the strong need for their existence. It is customary to think of methods as a necessary but unexciting means to an end - to relegate advances in methodology to a minor role in the creative, original portion of advances in science. This is not the case; the pace-setting function of methodology is well illustrated in most areas of neurobiology. To...

This fifth volume of Research Methods in Neurochemistry represents a milestone in that it marks almost a decade since the inception of the series. Over these ten years there has been an almost exponential growth in neuro chemistry accompanied by numerous technical developments. This is the justification for our series; inevitably we have only been able to cover a frac tion of the methodological innovations of the last decade, but we have tried as much as possible to create a balance between the different approaches and philosophies in the study of the chemical basis of brain function. Thus...