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Robert M. J. Grandpierre 1903–1984
0094-5765/85 $3.00+.00 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Acta Astronautica Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 135, 1985 Printed in Great Britain
IN MEMORIAM ROBERT M. J. GRANDPIERRE 1903- 1984
The International Academy of Astronautics has recently lost one of the oldest and most distinguished members of its Life Sciences Section, Professor Robert Marie Jean Grandpierre. Born at Toul on 31 October 1903, our colleague entered the La F16che Military School in 1915, then went on to the Lyon Military Medical School. He became a professor of physiology in 1939 and was at the same time an Air Force doctor, finishing his service with the rank of general. In 1959, he was appointed to the chair of physiology at the Nancy Faculty of Medicine and finally, in 1964, to that of Bordeaux. Robert Grandpierre's research in the field of aeronautical biology began in 1939 with the exploration of the sensitivity of the respiratory system to carbon dioxide and the analysis of problems of pulmonary ventilation at high altitudes, research carried out with Claude Franck. This was followed in 1943 by a study of the effects of hypoxia: demonstrating the decrease of motor activity of the digestive tract, related to a double mechanism, one direct and the other transmitted by the splanchnic nerve. The field of his research was extended in 1945 after the organisation of the Centre of Aeronautical Biology Study which, nine years later, became the Aerospatial Medicine Study and Research Center. Then, it was possible to specify the altitude above which durable reactions of the organism appeared. Disturbances of thermoregulation under the effect of hypoxia were the subject of particular study. Certain mechanisms of variations of vasomotor activity of epinephrine in hypoxia and hypocapnia were demonstrated.
Robert Grandpierre was also interested in problems posed by oxygen inhalation. He showed that reoxygenation brought about a bradycardia of sinus origin and a "paradoxal effect" related to a cortical response. In the course of hyperoxygenation, local reactions were connected to reflexes, transmitted by the pneumogastric nerve with liberation of histamine in situ. Hyperbaric breathing is responsible for a drop in general arterial blood pressure, corrected, in a certain measure, by a peripheral vaso-motor response. Robert Grandpierre described the route of this corrective reflex. Other vago-sympathetic reflexes are apparent in the course of cardiac, vascular and digestive manifestations following the impact of intense noise and mechanical vibrations. In 1960, Robert Grandpiere was the instigator of the first French experiments in space biology using animals: rats, cats, monkeys. With the aid of electrodes planted permanently in the brain, he showed that hypogravity lowered the psychic tone. However, a few tenths of G, or a strong motivation was sufficient to maintain vigilance, to ensure that the nerve impulses were not changed. An organizer of the first rank, talented teacher, successful researcher and a kindly man, Robert Grandpierre was appreciated by all who knew him. He was a member of several scientific associations and had an impressive number of honorary distinctions. His family, friends and his numerous pupils feel his loss very deeply.
M.-V. STRUMZA
135
Acta Astronautica Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 135, 1985 Printed in Great Britain
IN MEMORIAM ROBERT M. J. GRANDPIERRE 1903- 1984
The International Academy of Astronautics has recently lost one of the oldest and most distinguished members of its Life Sciences Section, Professor Robert Marie Jean Grandpierre. Born at Toul on 31 October 1903, our colleague entered the La F16che Military School in 1915, then went on to the Lyon Military Medical School. He became a professor of physiology in 1939 and was at the same time an Air Force doctor, finishing his service with the rank of general. In 1959, he was appointed to the chair of physiology at the Nancy Faculty of Medicine and finally, in 1964, to that of Bordeaux. Robert Grandpierre's research in the field of aeronautical biology began in 1939 with the exploration of the sensitivity of the respiratory system to carbon dioxide and the analysis of problems of pulmonary ventilation at high altitudes, research carried out with Claude Franck. This was followed in 1943 by a study of the effects of hypoxia: demonstrating the decrease of motor activity of the digestive tract, related to a double mechanism, one direct and the other transmitted by the splanchnic nerve. The field of his research was extended in 1945 after the organisation of the Centre of Aeronautical Biology Study which, nine years later, became the Aerospatial Medicine Study and Research Center. Then, it was possible to specify the altitude above which durable reactions of the organism appeared. Disturbances of thermoregulation under the effect of hypoxia were the subject of particular study. Certain mechanisms of variations of vasomotor activity of epinephrine in hypoxia and hypocapnia were demonstrated.
Robert Grandpierre was also interested in problems posed by oxygen inhalation. He showed that reoxygenation brought about a bradycardia of sinus origin and a "paradoxal effect" related to a cortical response. In the course of hyperoxygenation, local reactions were connected to reflexes, transmitted by the pneumogastric nerve with liberation of histamine in situ. Hyperbaric breathing is responsible for a drop in general arterial blood pressure, corrected, in a certain measure, by a peripheral vaso-motor response. Robert Grandpierre described the route of this corrective reflex. Other vago-sympathetic reflexes are apparent in the course of cardiac, vascular and digestive manifestations following the impact of intense noise and mechanical vibrations. In 1960, Robert Grandpiere was the instigator of the first French experiments in space biology using animals: rats, cats, monkeys. With the aid of electrodes planted permanently in the brain, he showed that hypogravity lowered the psychic tone. However, a few tenths of G, or a strong motivation was sufficient to maintain vigilance, to ensure that the nerve impulses were not changed. An organizer of the first rank, talented teacher, successful researcher and a kindly man, Robert Grandpierre was appreciated by all who knew him. He was a member of several scientific associations and had an impressive number of honorary distinctions. His family, friends and his numerous pupils feel his loss very deeply.
M.-V. STRUMZA
135