During the past 20 years, celJ biology has made immense strides which have completely transformed the time-honored morphological hematology of yesterday. This progress is primarily due to the introduction of new techniques which allow functional rather than anatomic studies: labeling techniques have made possible the study of celJ kinetics from birth to death of a celJ: culture techniques (both in vivo and in vitro) have made it possible to establish the progeny of certain stern celJs, their growth poten tiaL and the mechanisms of their regulation. The results have been so impressive and have so aroused the enthusiasm 01' young hematologists that it has become fashionable in so me quarters to consider the microscope an "extinct instrument" and morphology littlc more than an outmoded (if agreeable) pastime of little scientific interest. One of the consequences is the wish of some investigators to study cytology without the aid of their eyes. The present book makes us realize once more that morphology is the science of structure and shape and that its aim is not to colJect pictures but to understand them. It is true that microscopic observation, even when made with the electron microscope, cannot by itself answer some basic questions of celJ biology. However, the hematologist who uses only a single technique is like a person who would describe the world from the point of view of a single sensory organ and would refuse the aid of the others.

This publication provides guidance on preparing data to be input into an international computerised database for clinical case histories of persons accidentally exposed to whole body irradiation. The publication has resulted from a close collaboration between the Institute of Biophysics including its Hospital Number 6 in Moscow, Russia, and the Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine at the University of Ulm. In both institutions, much experience has been accumulated during the last 20 years in dealing with basic and clinical research in the field of radiation accident management. In both institutions many case histories of radiation accident victims have been recorded. On this basis the scientists and clinicians from both institutions developed, over the last two years, a pre computer proforma to feed the International Computer Database for Radiation Exposure Case Histories, with standardised data from clinical case histories of radiation accident victims. This activity should be seen as part of WHO efforts to establish a network of institutions around the world, competent in Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance. This network has become known as REMPAN and it is prepared to provide medical advice and assistance when a radiation accident occurs in any country. The Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, at the University of Ulm, is part of this global network.

Die Orthologie und Pathologie des Wachstums und der Differenzierung waren schon Gegenstand des 1955 erschienenen Bandes VI!I dieses Handbuches. Seine von Biologen und Pathologen verfassten Kapitel stutzten sieh auf die Ergebnisse der klassischen Morphologie. Die morphologischen Probleme des Wachstums standen dabei ganz im Mittelpunkt. Mit der systematischen Anwendung biochemischer Methoden, der Histo- autoradiographie zur Markierung der Reduplikationsphase der DNS sowie der RNS- und Protein-Synthese, der Cytophotometrie zur quantitativen Messung der Nueleinsauren und schliesslich der elektronenmikroskopischen Cytologie standen in der Erforschung der Orthologie und Pathologie des Wachstums seit einem .Jahrzehnt Methoden von vorher ungeahnter Aussagekraft zur Velfugung. So wird jeder, der sich in den vorliegenden Band vertieft, feststellen, dass der Einsatz dieser Methoden zu einer sturmischen Entfaltung der Erforschung von Wachstum und Differenzierung gefuhrt hat. In der Konfrontierung dieses Bandes mit dem 1955 erschienenen wird er zugleich voller Respekt erkennen, wievieles schon in der klassischen Biologie und Pathologie zu diesem Thema grundgelegt war und bis heute fortwirkt. Im ersten Beitrag des vorliegenden Bandes vermittelt R. SCH1NDLER-Bern einen UEberblick uber die Biochemie der Regeneration. Er berichtet uber Struktur und Synthese der DNS, deren Stoerungen durch chemische Faktoren und strahlende Energie, eroertert die RNS-Synthese sowie die Synthese der Proteine und ihre Stoerungen. Ausfuhrlich stellt er dann die Regulation und den Ablauf der biochemischen Vorgange wahrend der Regenerationsprozesse am Beispiel der Oberflachenepithelien, der Zellkulturen und bei der Leberregeneration dar und behandelt schliesslich die Frage nach den Proliferations-ausloesenden bio- chemischen Faktoren.