The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology

Citation

Cooper, J. R., Bloom, F. E., & Roth, R. H. (2003). The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Chapter Summary

The eighth edition is a compact book of about 400 pages of text, followed by an index, with 13 titled chapters. The publisher presents it as a lucid and lively account of neurotransmitters, their role in nervous system function and their involvement in the mechanisms of psychiatric drug action, written for students of neuroscience and psychopharmacology, residents in psychiatry and neurology, and clinicians and scientists. It describes the 8th edition as giving more space to clinical examples, receptor subclasses that are targets for new drugs, molecular genetics, the problem of delivering drugs to the brain, and nicotinic receptors in the brain and their possible role in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The second colour was added to many illustrations. The chapters move from the cell and molecule to receptors and signalling, then through the individual transmitter systems, and end with learning and treatment.

Introduction

The opening chapter is short, about six pages, and sets up the subject before the cell and molecular chapters begin on page 7.

Cellular Foundations of Neuropharmacology

Occupies about 30 pages and deals with the cell biology of the nervous system, ahead of the molecular and transmitter chapters.

Molecular Foundations of Neuropharmacology

About 25 pages on the molecular machinery behind neuronal function, which prepares for the chapters on receptors and signalling.

Receptors

About 20 pages on receptors. The publisher says this edition gives more attention to subclasses of receptors that are targets for new drugs.

Modulation of Synaptic Transmission

About 20 pages on how synaptic transmission is regulated, following the receptor chapter.

Amino Acid Transmitters

The first of the transmitter chapters, about 45 pages, covering the amino acid transmitters.

Acetylcholine

About 30 pages on acetylcholine. The publisher notes growing recognition of nicotinic receptors in the brain and their possible involvement in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Norepinephrine and Epinephrine

A chapter of roughly 45 pages on the two catecholamines.

Dopamine

About 45 pages, a chapter on its own.

Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine), Histamine, and Adenosine

One chapter of about 50 pages covers three transmitters together, one of the longest in the book.

Neuroactive Peptides

About 35 pages on peptide signalling molecules.

Cellular Mechanisms in Learning and Memory

A short chapter, about 15 pages, that links synaptic and cellular mechanisms to learning and memory.

Treating Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases

The closing chapter, about 28 pages, turns to the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disease. The publisher stresses clinical examples and psychiatric drug action throughout the edition.

Key Concepts

Foundations (Introduction through Modulation of Synaptic Transmission)

• Cellular and molecular foundations: the cell biology and molecular machinery of neurons treated before any single transmitter.
• Receptors and their subclasses: receptor subtypes as targets for new drugs.
• Modulation of synaptic transmission: regulation of how strongly a synapse signals.

Transmitter Systems

• Amino acid transmitters: the chapter that opens the transmitter series.
• Acetylcholine and nicotinic receptors: cholinergic transmission, including nicotinic receptors in the brain.
• Catecholamines: norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine, each treated in depth.
• Serotonin, histamine and adenosine: grouped in a single chapter.
• Neuroactive peptides: peptide transmitters and modulators.

Function and Treatment

• Cellular mechanisms of learning and memory: how synapses change with experience.
• Treating neurological and psychiatric disease: the pharmacology of drug treatment.
• Drug delivery to the brain: a topic the publisher singles out as receiving more space in this edition.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

• A clear sequence from cell to treatment. The chapter list proceeds from the cell and the molecule, to receptors and synaptic modulation, to each transmitter system, and finally to learning and treatment, so each chapter builds on the previous ones.
• Depth on the monoamines. Norepinephrine and epinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, histamine and adenosine take about 140 of the roughly 400 pages, which reflects the central role of these systems in psychiatric drug action.
• Compact and readable. The publisher calls the book authoritative and very readable and says it has been updated through successive editions, and its length makes it feasible to read in full.
• Attention to clinical relevance. This edition adds clinical examples and discusses new drug targets, drug delivery to the brain and nicotinic receptors in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Limitations

• Dated. This edition was published in 2002–2003, so findings, receptor classifications and drug treatments since then are not included; use a recent text for current pharmacology and disease models.
• Neurotransmitter-centred scope. The chapters are organized by transmitter, not by disorder or by brain system, so it is less suitable for readers who want a disease-by-disease treatment such as sleep, pain or addiction in separate chapters.
• Specialist background assumed. The audience named by the publisher (neuroscience students, residents, clinicians and scientists) presumes cell biology, biochemistry and some neuroscience.
• Limited treatment of clinical neurology. One closing chapter of about 28 pages handles the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disease, so clinical practice needs a separate text.

Where It Fits in the Course

Within the neuroscience course, this is the older of two neuropharmacology texts. Molecular Neuropharmacology by Nestler and colleagues (fourth edition, 2020) covers comparable foundations and then devotes its whole third part (Chapters 9–20) to systems and disorders such as pain, sleep, mood, addiction, psychosis and neurodegeneration; read it for current treatments and disease mechanisms and use the Cooper, Bloom and Roth book as a shorter, transmitter-by-transmitter account of the classical chemistry.

The other books in the list are not neuropharmacology texts. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain and Henley's Foundations of Neuroscience are introductions to the field, and Purves' Neuroscience, Luo's Principles of Neurobiology and From Neuron to Brain are fuller textbooks of cellular and systems neuroscience. The neuroanatomy books in the list (Snell, Crossman, Blumenfeld, and Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience at a Glance) supply the structural map. Read one of the introductions and a neuroanatomy text first, then this book for the chemistry of the synapse and drug action.

How to Use This Book

The book suits graduate students in neuroscience and pharmacology, psychiatry and neurology trainees, and researchers who want a concise account of neurotransmitter chemistry and drug action. A background in cell biology, biochemistry and introductory neuroscience is assumed.

A practical plan: read the cellular and molecular chapters and the chapters on receptors and synaptic modulation first, then pick the transmitter chapters that match your interest, for example Dopamine and Serotonin, Histamine, and Adenosine for psychiatry, and Acetylcholine for neurology. Read Cellular Mechanisms in Learning and Memory and Treating Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases last. Because the book dates from the early 2000s, check each transmitter system against a current review or a more recent text before relying on drug lists, receptor classifications or treatment recommendations. Make a one-page summary per transmitter (synthesis, release, receptors, removal, drugs) as a revision exercise.