Tribute to Roger Guillemin, a pioneer in neuroendocrinology (1924-2024), Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Roger Guillemin discovered and characterized the hypothalamic factors that control anterior pituitary functions. He consequently demonstrated that these brain peptides regulate a large number of major body activities through neuroendocrine mechanisms. This especially include growth, fertility and reproduction, endocrine gland functions and stress. These seminal works paved the way to major applications in many fields of physiology and medicine for diagnosis, pharmacology and therapy, far beyond the initial discovery and properties of these molecules, including in cancerology, immunology, inflammation, drug addiction and behavior.

Roger Guillemin a mis en évidence et caractérisé les facteurs hypothalamiques qui contrôlent les fonctions de l'adénohypophyse. Cette découverte majeure a permis de démontrer que ces peptides du cerveau régulent par voie neuroendocrine un grand nombre de fonctions importantes de l'organisme. C'est le cas de la croissance, de la fertilité et de la reproduction, des fonctions des glandes endocriniennes et du stress. Ces travaux pionniers ont ouvert la voie à des applications innovantes dans de nombreux domaines de la physiologie et de la médecine pour le diagnostic, la pharmacologie et la thérapie, bien au-delà de la découverte initiale et des propriétés de ces molécules. Ces domaines comprennent en particulier la cancérologie, l'immunologie, les problèmes inflammatoires, les addictions et le comportement.

[About the first publication of I.M. Sechenov. (To the 195th anniversary of his birth)]. / O pervoi publikatsii I.M. Sechenova. (K 195-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya).

Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov is a Russian physiologist, a natural scientist, and the creator of the Russian physiological school. The classic work «Reflexes of the Brain¼, published in 1863, became revolutionary in its own way for medicine and society, since the reflex nature of conscious and unconscious activity was proved. Along with numerous well-known scientific works, there is an early student publication in the Moscow Medical Journal published by A. I. Polunin. It describes the medical history of a patient with a tumor who was unsuccessfully treated for a long time in accordance with the humoral theory of pathology. This publication makes it possible to understand why I. M. Sechenov became disillusioned with practical medicine, but found his vocation in the study of physiology. The article is devoted to the 195th anniversary of the birth of I. M. Sechenov.

Aspectos de la vida y obra del Dr. Bernardo Alberto Houssay / Aspects of the life and work of Dr. Bernardo Alberto Houssay

Con motivo del Día Mundial de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, se realizó en la Casa Museo Bernardo Houssay un conversatorio en el que expertos biógrafos resaltaron algunos aspectos de la trayectoria profesional del Premio Nobel de Medicina de 1947, destacando su actividad como investigador en fisiología y sus cualidades humanas. Estos importantes estudiosos del tema compartieron sus conocimientos en un selecto auditorio. (AU)

On the occasion of World Science and Technology Day, a discussion was held at the Bernardo Houssay House Museum in which expert biographers highlighted some aspects of the professional career of the 1947 Nobel Prize in Medicine, highlighting his activity as a researcher in physiology and his human qualities. These important scholars of the subject shared their knowledge in a select audience. (AU)

Inicio de la enseñanza de la Fisiología en Chile / Beginning of the teaching of Physiology in Chile

Este trabajo pretende dar a conocer el inicio y desarrollo temprano de los estudios fisiológicos en Chile. La fisiología, como disciplina científica, se comenzó a enseñar desde el momento mismo de la fundación de la Escuela de Medicina en 1833 asociada estrechamente a la anatomía e higiene. Las tres disciplinas eran enseñadas por el mismo catedrático. Su primer profesor fue el destacado anatomista chileno Pedro Morán, a quien continuaron los profesores Dr. Julio Francisco Lafargue y Dr. Vicente Padín del Valle. En un segundo período (1868-1901), la enseñanza de la fisiología se debilitó fuertemente, pues fue enseñada por varios médicos clínicos que no conocían en profundidad esta disciplina. Luego de este período inicial (1833-1900), que podríamos denominar etapa teórica, nació la denominada fisiología experimental con Teodoro Muhm, la cual, mediante clases con demostraciones experimentales y luego trabajos prácticos, intentaba acercar al alumno a la realidad del fenómeno fisiológico.

This work intends to present the beginning and early development of physiological studies in Chile. Physiology, as a scientific discipline, began to be taught from the moment the School of Medicine was founded in 1833, closely associated with anatomy and hygiene. The three disciplines were taught by the same professor. His first professor was the outstanding Chilean anatomist Pedro Morán, who was continued by the outstanding professors Dr. Julio Francisco Lafargue and Dr. Vicente Padín del Valle. In a second period (1868-1901), the teaching of physiology was severely weakened, as it was taught by various clinicians who did not know this discipline in depth. After this initial period (1833-1900), which we could call the theoretical stage, the so-called experimental physiology was born, which, through classes with experimental demonstrations and then practical work, tried to bring the student closer to the reality of the physiological phenomenon.

Claude Bernard and life in the laboratory.

Much has been written on Claude Bernard as a relentless promoter of the experimental method in physiology. Although the paper will touch Bernard's experimental intuitions and his experimental practice as well, its focus is slightly different. It will address the laboratory, that is, the space in which experimentation in the life sciences takes place, and it will analyze the scattered remarks that Bernard made on the topic both in his books and in his posthumously published writings. The paper is divided into four parts. The introduction briefly sketches the coming into being of the physiological laboratory in the first half of the nineteenth century. The second section will give an overview of Claude Bernard's own itinerary in physiology and his personal laboratory experience. The third part of the paper will have a look at the image of the laboratory that Claude depicted in his Introduction to Experimental Medicine. In the subsequent section and by contrast, the image of the laboratory will come into focus as it can be reconstructed from Bernard's notebook that he kept between 1850 and 1860, the Cahier rouge. Finally, the fifth part of the paper will spotlight Claude Bernard's comparison of the sciences and the arts and their respective practices. A brief concluding statement tries to summarize Bernard's epistemological position toward experimentally practiced science.

Historical review of the Department of Physiology on the 75th anniversary of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez / Reseña histórica del Departamento de Fisiología en el 75 aniversario del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez

Abstract The Physiology Department has played an important role in the development of physiology in Mexico since its beginnings. It was founded by Dr. Arturo Rosenblueth in 1947. Many of the original researchers participated in the formation of the Mexican Society of Physiological Sciences. Researchers belonging to this department have given origin to an important national research center (CINVESTAV) and to numerous groups and departments within the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología such as the Valves department in the basement of the main building of the institute, the department of molecular biology situated in the Anexo de Investigación, and a laboratory in the translational medicine unit. The physiology department has importantly contributed to the development of research in the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología.

Resumen El Departamento de Fisiología ha desempeñado un papel importante en el desarrollo de la fisiología en México desde sus inicios. Fue fundado por el Dr. Arturo Rosenblueth en 1947. Muchos de sus investigadores originales participaron en el nacimiento de la Sociedad Mexicana de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Fue el origen de un importante centro de investigación a nivel nacional (CINVESTAV) y ha dado lugar a numerosos grupos y departamentos dentro del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, como el Departamento de Válvulas en el basamento del edificio principal, el Departamento de Biología Molecular ubicado en el Anexo de Investigación y un laboratorio en la Unidad de Medicina Traslacional. El Departamento de Fisiología ha contribuido de manera importante al desarrollo de la investigación en el Instituto Nacional de Cardiología.

Jan Evangelista Purkinje, a brilliant, multifaceted Czech biologist: nerve tissue / Jan Evangelista Purkinje, um brilhante multifacetado biólogo checo: tecido nervoso

Jan Evangelista Purkinje was a Czech physician with an exceptional capacity for innovative thinking, and he was one of the fathers of experimental physiology, experimental pharmacology, experimental psychology, histology, embryology, and physical anthropology. Several achievements are named after him, from his prodigious productivity. Of special interest of this paper was his pioneering role in the rise of experimental physiology, microscopical anatomy, and histological methods by the 1830´s that allowed him define more accurate data concerning the structure of nerve tissue of animals and humans such as the now known "Purkinje's cells" and others cells of the brain. He investigated the structure of neuronal processes, including the dendrites. Purkinje recognized possible functional differences between a variety of types of neurons and speculated about their interrelations. He was one of the great geniuses of science.

Jan Evangelista Purkinje foi um médico checo com excepcional capacidade de pensamento inovador e um dos pais da fisiologia experimental, farmacologia experimental, psicologia experimental, histologia, embriologia e antropologia física. Várias conquistas receberam o nome dele, de sua produtividade prodigiosa. De interesse especial deste trabalho enaltece-se o seu papel pioneiro no surgimento da fisiologia experimental, anatomia microscópica e métodos histológicos na década de 1830. Isso permitiu que ele definisse dados mais precisos sobre a estrutura do tecido nervoso de animais e humanos, como as agora conhecidas "células de Purkinje" e outras células do cérebro. Ele investigou a estrutura dos processos neuronais, incluindo os dendritos. Purkinje reconheceu possíveis diferenças funcionais entre uma variedade de tipos de neurônios e especulou sobre suas inter-relações. Ele foi um dos grandes gênios da ciência.

La metáfora energética del ser humano y su incidencia en el auge de la neurastenia, la neurosis y la depresión / The energy metaphor for the human body and its effect on the rise of neurasthenia, neurosis and depression

Resumen El artículo tiene por objetivo realizar una historia crítica del auge de tres categorías diagnósticas: la neurastenia (fin del siglo XIX), la neurosis (primera mitad del siglo XX) y la depresión (segunda mitad del siglo XX hasta nuestros días). La hipótesis es que su amplia difusión se explicaría debido al vínculo que ellas han tenido con la metáfora energética del ser humano. Desde mediados del siglo XIX, la concepción energética se difundió por la cultura occidental, habilitando ciertas ficciones acerca de lo que somos - dimensión ontológica - y lo que podríamos llegar a ser - dimensión ética. El artículo muestra que estas patologías han codificado y tornado inteligible determinadas trayectorias vitales que no cumplían con los imperativos de tales ficciones onto-éticas.

Abstract This article aims to provide a historical critique of the rise of three diagnostic categories: neurasthenia (late nineteenth century), neurosis (first half of the twentieth century) and depression (mid-twentieth century to the present). The hypothesis is that their broad dissemination can be explained through their link to the energy metaphor for the human body. From the mid-nineteenth century on, the concept of energy spread through western culture, encouraging certain fictions about what we are - the ontological dimension - and what we could be - the ethical dimension. The article shows that these pathologies have codified and made intelligible a set of life trajectories that did not obey the imperatives of those onto-ethical fictions.

Was Thomas Wharton Jones FRS, assistant to the infamous Dr Knox, the first to recognise the blood eosinophil?

Thomas Wharton Jones (1808-91), described as a 'genius' by his famous pupil Thomas Henry Huxley, was an Edinburgh medical graduate. At the age of 19 years he was appointed anatomy demonstrator to the infamous Dr Robert Knox so unwittingly becoming caught up in the Burke and Hare scandal. Escaping to Glasgow, and then to Cork and London, Jones eventually became an outstanding physiologist and ophthalmologist. His seminal observations included scholarly treatises on the vasculature in inflammation together with descriptions of the contractile movement of white blood cells, as well as studies on regeneration and repair, astigmatism and retinitis pigmentosa. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840. One of his seminal contributions was his detailed description of 'granular cells' in the blood of a large number of animal species, including man. His illustrations suggest strongly these were eosinophils, predating Paul Erhlich's definitive studies (using aniline dyes) by 33 years. In later life he was found destitute in his London home and 'rescued' by friends and colleagues. William Gladstone was persuaded to give Jones a civil list pension. He lived out the rest of his life in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.

Antoine Ferrein (1693-1769)-His Life and Contribution to Anatomy and Physiology: The Description of the Vocal Chords and Their Function.

The purpose of this study is to summarize the life and work of the French anatomist and surgeon Antoine Ferrein (1693-1769). Ferrein made an impact in the history of anatomy and physiology through his work and especially with the description of phonation, renal anatomy, and liver and biliary structure. He also made an impact on ophthalmology with the description of the eyelid and its diseases. After a thorough review of the literature, we present in this review his life and his main discoveries with special emphasis on the anatomic description of the vocal chords resembling the chords of a violin tempered by the air exhaled from the lungs and how the physiology of phonation and the surgery of the larynx were revolutionized after that.

A lifetime of pulmonary gas exchange.

Pulmonary gas exchange is the primary function of the lung, and during my lifetime, its measurement has passed through many stages. When I was born, many physiologists still believed that the lung secreted oxygen. When I was a medical student, the only way we had to recognize defective gas exchange was whether the patient was cyanosed. The advent of the oximeter soon showed that this sign could be very misleading. A breakthrough was the introduction of blood gas electrodes that could measure the PO2 , PCO2 , and pH of a small sample of arterial blood. It was soon recognized that the commonest cause of hypoxemia was ventilation-perfusion inequality, and that this could also be responsible for CO2 retention. In the early days, the understanding of the mechanisms of pulmonary gas exchange relied on graphical analysis because the oxygen and carbon dioxide dissociation curves are nonlinear and interdependent which precluded algebraic methods. However, with the introduction of digital computing, problems that had hitherto been impossible to tackle became amenable to study. A key advance was the development of the Multiple Inert Gas Elimination Technique. Now, noninvasive methods for measuring gas exchange show promise, and the whole subject continues to develop.

La tuba uterina: desde Herófilo a Horacio Croxatto / The uterine tube: from Herophilus to Horacio Croxatto

Las tubas uterinas (TU) son órganos tubulares fundamentales en la reproducción humana. No obstante, recién a mediados del siglo XVII con las investigaciones de Reinier De Graaf se comienza a develar su verdadera función en la reproducción. En este trabajo se resumen las principales contribuciones de Horacio Croxatto Avoni al conocimiento de la morfología y fisiología de la TU humana. Sus principales aportes tienen relación con la fisiología del transporte del cigoto y los gametos a lo largo de la TU.

The uterine tubes (UT) are fundamental tubular organs in human reproduction. However, it was not until the middle of the 17th century that Reinier De Graaf's research began to reveal its true role in reproduction. In this work the main contributions of Horacio Croxatto Avoni toward the knowledge of the morphology and physiology of the human UT are summarized. Its main contributions are related to the physiology of zygote transport and gametes throughout the UT.

Open-circuit respirometry: a historical review of portable gas analysis systems.

Scientists such as physiologists, engineers, and nutritionists have often sought to estimate human metabolic strain during daily activities and physical pursuits. The measurement of human metabolism can involve direct calorimetry as well as indirect calorimetry using both closed-circuit respirometry and open-circuit methods that can include diluted flow chambers and laboratory-based gas analysis systems. For field studies, methods involving questionnaires, pedometry, accelerometery, heart rate telemetry, and doubly labelled water exist, yet portable metabolic gas analysis remains the gold standard for most field studies on energy expenditure. This review focuses on research-based portable systems designed to estimate metabolic rate typically under steady-state conditions by critically examining each significant historical innovation. Key developments include Zuntz's 1906 innovative system, then a significant improvement to this purely mechanical system by the widely adopted Kofranyi-Michaelis device in the 1940s. Later, a series of technical improvements: in electronics lead to Wolf's Integrating Motor Pneumotachograph in the 1950s; in polarographic O2 cells in 1970-1980's allowed on-line oxygen uptake measures; in CO2 cells in 1990s allowed on-line respiratory exchange ratio determination; and in advanced sensors/computing power at the turn of the century led to the first truly breath-by-breath portable systems. Very recent significant updates to the popular Cosmed and Cortex systems and the potential commercial release of the NASA-developed 'PUMA' system show that technological developments in this niche area are still incrementally advancing.