Abstract
At a dinner speech in Atlantic City in 1950, Otto Loewi commented on some facets of his work that had led to the discovery of neurochemical transmission. He mentioned that Sir Walter Fletcher, years after the discovery, reminded him that as far back as 1903 Loewi had pointed out to him the possibility of a neurochemical transmission. As we know, this idea gradually developed, and the ripe fruit fell into Loewi’s hands in 1921 after a series of genially simple experiments. At the 1926 International Physiological Congress in Stockholm, Loewi demonstrated his experiments, which were to revolutionize the concepts of nerve transmission. As a medical student I had the opportunity to be present and also to make the personal acquaintance of this great scientist and charming and witty man.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bacq, Z.M. (1934): La pharmacologie du systeme nerveux autonome, et particulierement du sympathique, d’ après la théorie neurohumorale. Ann. Physiol. Physicochim. Biol. 10:467–528.
Bergström, S. (1967): Prostaglandins: members of a new hormonal system. Science 157:382–391.
Blaschko, H. (1942): The activity of (—)-dopa decarboxylase. J. Physiol. 101:337–349.
Blaschko, H., Hagen, P., and Welch, A.D. (1955): Observations on the intracellular granules of the adrenal medulla. J. Physiol. 129:27–49.
Burn, J.H., and Rand, M.J. (1958): The action of sympathomimetic amines in animals treated with reserpine. J. Physiol. 144:314–336.
Gannon, W.B., and Lissák, K. (1939): Evidence for adrenaline in adrenergic neurones. Am. J. Physiol. 125:765–777.
Cannon, W.B., and Rosenblueth, A. (1937): Autonomic Neuroeffector Systems. New York: Macmillan.
Chang, M.M., and Leeman, S.E. (1970): Isolation of a sialogogic peptide from bovine hypothalamic tissue and its characterization as substance P. J. Biol. Chem. 245:4784–4790.
Dahlström, A. (1965): Observation on the accumulation of noradrenaline in the proximal and distal parts of peripheral adrenergic nerves after compression. J. Anat. 99:677–687.
Dale, H.H. (1953): Adventures in Physiology. London: Pergamon Press.
Ehrlén, I. (1948): Farmacevtisk Revy (Stockholm) 47:242–250.
Falck, B., Hillarp, N.-A., Thieme, G., and Torp, A. (1962): Fluorescence of catechol amines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10:348–354.
Goodall, McC. (1950): Hydroxytyramine in mammalian heart. Nature 166:738.
Hedqvist, P. (1969): Prostaglandin E as a modulator of noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerves. Acta Physiol. Scand. 11 (Suppl. 330).
Hillarp, N.-A., Lagerstedt, S., and Nilson, B. (1953): The isolation of a granular fraction from the suprarenal medulla, containing the sympathomimetic catechol amines. Acta Physiol. Scand. 29: 251–263.
Holtz, P., Credner, K., and Kroneberg, G. (1947): Arch. Exp. Path. Pharmak. 204:228–243.
Hornykiewicz, O. (1971): Dopamine: Its physiology, pharmacology and pathological neuro-chemistry. In: Biogenic Amines and Physiologic Membranes in Drug Therapy. Part B. Biel, J.H., and Abood, L.G., eds. New York: Marcel Dekker, pp. 173–258.
Loewi, O. (1921): Arch. Gesamte Physiol. 189:239–242.
Shaw, F.H. (1938): The estimation of adrenaline. Biochem. J. 32:19–25.
Sutherland, E.W., and Robison, G.A. (1966): Metabolic effects of catecholamines. Pharmacol. Rev. 18:145–161.
Weiss, P., and Hiscoe, H.B. (1948): Experiments on the mechanism of nerve growth. J. Exp. Zool. 107:315–395.
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Birkhäuser Boston
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
von Euler, U. (1992). Discoveries of Neurotransmitter Agents and Modulators of Neuronal Functions. In: Worden, F.G., Swazey, J.P., Adelman, G. (eds) The Neurosciences: Paths of Discovery, I. Birkhäuser Boston. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6817-5_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6817-5_10
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Boston
Print ISBN: 978-0-8176-3621-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-6817-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive