BERNARDO ALBERTO HOUSSAY: BIOGRAPHY, CONTRIBUTIONS, WORKS - BIOGRAPHIES - 2024

Bernardo Alberto Houssay (1887-1971) was the first Latin American to receive the Nobel Prize in the area of ​​medicine or physiology (1947). He achieved this thanks to his studies on the pituitary lobe and the role it played in the chemical and biological changes that carbohydrates undergo. It showed a link in turn to diabetes.

It took almost 40 years for another Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in the area of ​​Medicine again, when the Venezuelan Baruj Benacerraf achieved it. In 1984 another Argentine received the award, César Milstein. Thus Houssay, Benacerraf and Milstein are the only Latin Americans to receive the award, which was given for the first time in 1901 in this branch.

Source: Nobel Foundation, via Wikimedia Commons.

His was so important that he made physiology become one of the most important areas of biology in Argentina. In addition to his work as a doctor and a specialist in physiology, Houssay also stood out for his work at the scientific level leading multiple experiments. On the other hand, teaching was one of his great passions.

The works written by Houssay throughout his career were many and of different themes. It is estimated that there are more than 500 publications with his signature. Most of his writings focus on presenting the discoveries he was making in the different experiments he carried out.

Houssay was the recipient of different recognitions around the world. More than 20 universities awarded him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, among them the prestigious Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford.

Biography

Bernardo Alberto Houssay was born on April 10, 1887 in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina. His parents were Albert and Clara, two emigrants from France. His dad was a lawyer and his mom was a homemaker.

Bernardo, being very young, already showed great ability to overcome any academic level without problem. He even came to be regarded as a sage.

His education began at a private school that he attended after winning a scholarship. He graduated with honors at only 13 years old and entered the School of Pharmacy at 14. He graduated from the University of Buenos Aires when he was only 17 years old, after only four years of career.

He proved to be far ahead of the rest of his generation. When he finished his pharmaceutical training, he began to study medicine between 1904 and 1910. Before finishing his degree, he had already started working in the physiology department of the university.

Teaching and medical practice

Houssay's first approach to teaching was when in 1908 he accepted a position as an assistant in the area of ​​physiology. A year later, even though he was a medical student, he already had a proposal from the University of Buenos Aires to assume the position of professor at the school of veterinary sciences.

After graduating, again with honors and with a thesis on the pituitary glands, Houssay began a brilliant career in which he alternated between the practice of medicine and teaching. Houssay treated patients in private clinics, but also in municipal hospitals.

In 1913 he became the chief of physiology at the Alvear Hospital in the city of Buenos Aires. He also headed the department of physiology and pathology in the National Department of Hygiene. Since he held between 1915 and 1919.

At the Houssay public institution, he was in charge of analyzing the effect that snake and insect venom had on blood clotting in humans.

From 1919 he had a very relevant role in the study of medicine in Argentina. He held the position of professor of physiology at the medical school at the University of Buenos Aires.

His contributions included changing the organization of the school, making his classes open spaces for experimentation and research. He made the academic institution gain a lot of prestige internationally.

He held his post until 1943. During that time he was not very supportive of the excessive use of technology. Houssay believed that devices used without control could condition the learning and intellectual level of doctors in training.

Set aside by the government

In 1943, after the military coup in Argentina that started the revolution, Houssay was separated from his post at the University of Buenos Aires. The new military government was not very happy with the opinions issued by Houssay in which he was in favor of having a democracy in the country.

His last class after being dismissed had more than two thousand attendees and made some very subtle references to the situation in the country.

Although he received a large number of invitations from institutions around the world, Houssay never wanted to leave Argentina. Even her patriotic speech prevented the exodus of a large number of doctors and students from the country due to the economic and social problems that existed in the country.

Houssay's position was offered in the first instance to Eduardo Braun Menéndez. The scientist had worked with Houssay years before and rejected the position.

Houssay, meanwhile, took advantage of the financial resources made available by the Sauberan Foundation and created the Institute for Experimental Biology and Medicine. The scientist was joined by very important names in science in Argentina such as Lewis, Virgilio Foglia, Eduardo Braun himself, and Federico Leloir.

In 1955, with the end of the second government of Juan Domingo Perón and the anti-Peronist coup, Houssay was again assigned a post at the University of Buenos Aires, but he rejected it. The nobel proposed Eduardo Braun and Virgilio Foglia in his place.

In Houssay's mind were other plans, such as finishing the formation of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). The institution was finally founded in 1958.

Family

Houssay was part of a large family. Her parents Albert and Clara had eight children: four boys and four girls. Her siblings were Margarita María, Emilio Felipe, Gabriel Fernando, María, Raúl Aureliano, Emelina and Cecilia María.

Bernardo's father, in addition to dedicating himself to law, also taught at the National College in the city of Buenos Aires.

Bernardo married María Angélica Catán who had training in the area of ​​chemistry, but who dedicated herself to her family. The couple had three children, all of whom took up medicine in their adulthood.

Bernardo Houssay died on September 21, 1971.

Contributions and discoveries

While he was a student, Houssay developed one of his most relevant works, which had to do with an explanation of the function of pituitary hormones. The subject was even exposed in her doctoral thesis.

Later, he expanded his studies on the subject of the pituitary extract and received awards in Argentina for his contributions. He spoke about the effects of these hormones in humans and was in charge of studying this gland for more than 50 years.

The pituitary extract, among other things, has a very close relationship with the development of the two types of diabetes. In this sense, Houssay managed to determine that the lack of the pituitary caused great sensitivity to insulin. This whole study was given the name of the Houssay Phenomenon. Gained a better understanding of the endocrine system.

Likewise, the scientist worked on many other issues that can be seen in the hundreds of articles that bear his signature. He was interested in other physiological aspects such as digestion, he also studied the respiratory system or blood processes.

Houssay came to investigate on digestion, the nervous system or matters related to the metabolism of human beings.

When he was part of the National Department of Hygiene in Argentina, he became interested in the antidote to treat the bites of poisonous animals or insects. Fifty publications have to do precisely with antisera and he managed to develop effective antidotes.

Influence

As a child, Houssay proved to be very advanced intellectually. His first approach to the scientific and cultural world was thanks to his father Albert. Later, Claude Bernard and Juan Bautista Señorans were discussed as sources of inspiration for Houssay.

The first for the interest he generated in the medical area with his book Introduction to the study of experimental medicine. The second is recognized by Houssay as the forerunner of the physiological study in Argentina.

Nobel Prize

The most important moment in Bernardo Houssay's career occurred in 1947 when he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. It was the first of three Latin Americans to have gained recognition in that field.

The recognition for Houssay came as a result of his research on the role of carbohydrates in the action of the anterior lobe of the pituitary. It was a breakthrough in treating and preventing diabetes, and for this reason its contribution was recognized.

Houssay presented his study first to the Argentine Society of Biology. Then the writing was translated by Houssay himself and presented in France.

The Argentine received his award on December 10, 1947 when the ceremony was held in Stockholm. That same year the husbands Carl Cory and Gerthy Radnitz were also awarded for their studies on glucose.

Disciples

Countless scientists passed through Houssay's classrooms and laboratories, who over time were also very important for science in Argentina and the rest of the world. Perhaps the most important of his students was Luis Federico Leloir who also received the Nobel Prize, although in his case it was in the area of ​​Chemistry.

Medical development in Argentina

His role as a teacher also served as an impetus for Argentina to develop its medical departments in a new way. Houssay was the culprit for the beginning of experiments with new methodologies, betting on the modernity of scientific practice and research.

This new vision allowed Houssay to be considered as an important advisor to colleagues locally and also from an international point of view. It also allowed the world to turn its gaze to Argentina and the scientific development that was taking place there.

Plays

Bernardo Houssay was the author of an impressive number of works throughout his professional life. He always believed it was important to work on the dissemination of new ideas and experiments. He managed to bring science to the entire population.

His signature is present in more than 500 studies. He is the author of several books and all this allowed him to win prizes of great importance.

One of his most important works was Human Physiology, a publication that he made with the help of Miguel Rolando Covián and Eduardo Braun. The first edition of this book came out in 1945 and it became a reference work in all Latin American countries.

Recognitions

His career and his contributions to science, especially in Argentina, have made him worthy of all kinds of recognitions. More than 20 universities around the world awarded him an honorary degree. Of those institutions, 15 were Latin American.

In addition, Houssay is a member of more than 50 academies, organizations and / or scientific societies in biology, physiology, cardiology and even in letters.

The Organization of American States created an award in honor of the Argentine scientist in 1972. The objective of the OAS is to reward the most important scientists in the region.

There is a museum in Buenos Aires in honor of Houssay that is located in what was his former residence. In addition, the Houssay Foundation was created in his honor, whose purpose is to help the most relevant students in branches such as science, the arts or technology.

In 1960, in London, he received the Dale Medal from the Endocrinological Society. It is the most important award given in this branch of medicine.

References

1. Barona Vilar, Josep Lluis. The Republican Scientist Exile. University of Valencia, 2010.
2. Bernardo A. Houssay., 1976.
3. Buch Canova, Alfonso Daniel. Form And Function Of A Modern Subject. Autonomous University of Madrid, 2001.
4. Houssay, Bernardo A et al. Writings And Speeches Of Dr. Bernardo A. Houssay. Editorial University of Buenos Aires, 1989.
5. Houssay, Bernardo Alberto et al. Bernardo A. Houssay: His Life and His Work, 1887-1971. National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, 1981.