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Physiology at Heidelberg
Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 3 (1981) 121--122
121
© Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press
PHYSIOLOGY AT HEIDELBERG
HORST SELLER
I. Physiological Institute, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg (G.F.R.)
Physiology at the University of Heidelberg began as a distinct discipline in 1858 with the appointment of the first chairman and professor, Hermann von Helmholtz. Helmholtz remained in Heidelberg until 1870 when he went to Berlin. His main accomplishments during these years in Heidelberg were: (1) his studies on the auditory and the visual systems, e.g. On the Sensation of Tone (1862); Mechanics of the middle ear ossicles and the eardrum (Pfliigets Arch. ges. Physiol., 1 (1868) 1); (2) the invention of the ophthalmometer (1864); and (3) the production of his multi-volume handbook, Physiological Optics (1856--1866). The successor to yon Helmholtz was Willy Kiihne who was chairman of the Institute from 1871 until his death in 1900. Besides his important studies on photosensitive pigments, the electroretinogram, and the histology of the m o t o r end-plate, his most significant contribution to physiology was the discovery of trypsin and the invention of the term enzyme for those proteins which are specialized to effect the chemical reactions of b o d y metabolism (Verhandlungen des Heidelberger Naturhist. Med. Vereins, N.S. 1.3 (1876) 2). Albrecht Kossel, another chemically oriented physiologist, was chairman of the Institute from 1901 to 1923. His chief work was the study of the chemistry of the proteins of the cell, especially the nucleic acids. For this work he was awarded the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1910. Kossel was succeeded by August Piitter (1923--1929); his interest was in the physiology of the kidney, b u t h e died too soon to make any major contribution in this field. In 1930 Philipp Broemser became the fifth chairman of the Institute, b u t o n l y for a short time, until 1934. After the long period of biochemically oriented work at the Institute, Broemser turned interest back towards classical physical measurement of functional processes. He introduced new methods for the recording of blood flow and pressure in the cardiovascular system. He was succeeded by Johann Daniel Achelis, who from 1934--1945 served as chairman of the Institute. The work done by Achelis was mainly in electrophysiology of peripheral nerves, e.g. chronaxy measurements, sensation of the skin, especially pain. He was also interested in the metabolism and energy support of the organism. The seventh chairman of the first Physiological Institute at Heidelberg was Hans Schaefer who served as director of physiology there from 1950 to 1974. Today he is, as Professor Emeritus, still one of the most active members of
122 the Institute. He was succeeded as chairman in 1974 by Horst Seller, who came from Munich as a pupil of Kurt Kramer. Since 1950 the Institute has expanded very much and besides the continuation of studies of the autonomic nervous system there are now several independent groups working in different fields of physiology, such as renal physiology, microcirculation, volume regulation, and the nature and function of respiratory centers. In 1966 a second Institute of Physiology of the University of Heidelberg was established. The first chairman of this Institute was Wolfgang Trautwein who was succeeded in 1973 by Johann-Caspar Rfiegg.
121
© Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press
PHYSIOLOGY AT HEIDELBERG
HORST SELLER
I. Physiological Institute, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg (G.F.R.)
Physiology at the University of Heidelberg began as a distinct discipline in 1858 with the appointment of the first chairman and professor, Hermann von Helmholtz. Helmholtz remained in Heidelberg until 1870 when he went to Berlin. His main accomplishments during these years in Heidelberg were: (1) his studies on the auditory and the visual systems, e.g. On the Sensation of Tone (1862); Mechanics of the middle ear ossicles and the eardrum (Pfliigets Arch. ges. Physiol., 1 (1868) 1); (2) the invention of the ophthalmometer (1864); and (3) the production of his multi-volume handbook, Physiological Optics (1856--1866). The successor to yon Helmholtz was Willy Kiihne who was chairman of the Institute from 1871 until his death in 1900. Besides his important studies on photosensitive pigments, the electroretinogram, and the histology of the m o t o r end-plate, his most significant contribution to physiology was the discovery of trypsin and the invention of the term enzyme for those proteins which are specialized to effect the chemical reactions of b o d y metabolism (Verhandlungen des Heidelberger Naturhist. Med. Vereins, N.S. 1.3 (1876) 2). Albrecht Kossel, another chemically oriented physiologist, was chairman of the Institute from 1901 to 1923. His chief work was the study of the chemistry of the proteins of the cell, especially the nucleic acids. For this work he was awarded the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1910. Kossel was succeeded by August Piitter (1923--1929); his interest was in the physiology of the kidney, b u t h e died too soon to make any major contribution in this field. In 1930 Philipp Broemser became the fifth chairman of the Institute, b u t o n l y for a short time, until 1934. After the long period of biochemically oriented work at the Institute, Broemser turned interest back towards classical physical measurement of functional processes. He introduced new methods for the recording of blood flow and pressure in the cardiovascular system. He was succeeded by Johann Daniel Achelis, who from 1934--1945 served as chairman of the Institute. The work done by Achelis was mainly in electrophysiology of peripheral nerves, e.g. chronaxy measurements, sensation of the skin, especially pain. He was also interested in the metabolism and energy support of the organism. The seventh chairman of the first Physiological Institute at Heidelberg was Hans Schaefer who served as director of physiology there from 1950 to 1974. Today he is, as Professor Emeritus, still one of the most active members of
122 the Institute. He was succeeded as chairman in 1974 by Horst Seller, who came from Munich as a pupil of Kurt Kramer. Since 1950 the Institute has expanded very much and besides the continuation of studies of the autonomic nervous system there are now several independent groups working in different fields of physiology, such as renal physiology, microcirculation, volume regulation, and the nature and function of respiratory centers. In 1966 a second Institute of Physiology of the University of Heidelberg was established. The first chairman of this Institute was Wolfgang Trautwein who was succeeded in 1973 by Johann-Caspar Rfiegg.