Viktor Hamburger
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Forum TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.24 No.11 November 2001 673 to a given sensory input (e.g. hunger to 10 Frasure-Smith, N. and Prince, R. (1989) Long 24 Hasselmo, M.E. et al. (1997) Noradrenergic feeding, stomach movements to nausea term follow-up of the Ischemic Heart Disease Life suppression of synaptic transmission may and stuffy air to respiration) but visceral Stress Monitoring Program. Psychosom. Med. 51, influence cortical signal-to-noise ratio. 485–513 J. Neurophysiol. 77, 3326–3339 sensory inputs have now been linked to 11 Talbot, F. and Nouwen, A. (2000) A review of the 25 Zagon, A. and Kemeny, A.A. (2000) Slow long-term, and sometimes pathological relationship between depression and diabetes in hyperpolarization in cortical neurones – a possible modulation of behavioural patterns. adults: is there a link? Diabetes Care 23, mechanism behind vagus nerve stimulation Any further analysis of the generation 1556–1562 therapy for refractory epilepsy? 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Heart J. 118, 545–552 23 Bremner, J.D. et al. (1996) Noradrenergic UK NW3 2PF. 9 Carr, R.E. (1999) Panic disorder and asthma. mechanisms in stress and anxiety. I. Preclinical J. Asthma 44, 143–152 studies. Synapse 23, 28–38 e-mail: [email protected] Obituary passion for outdoor activities, especially an instructorship back at Freiburg from Viktor Hamburger observing and collecting insects and larvae 1927–1932, Viktor accepted a Rockefeller in the fields and ponds near the family Fellowship to study in Frank Lillie’s (1900–2001) home. Following undergraduate training laboratory at Chicago, bringing the in Zoology at Breslau, Heidelberg, and precepts and methods of experimental ‘Our real teacher has been and still is the Munich, in 1921 Viktor became a graduate embryology to a laboratory in which the embryo, who is, incidentally, the only teacher student in the laboratory of Hans Spemann chick embryo was atop the pecking order. who is always right.’ V. Hamburger at Freiburg, during the period when the Because of political changes in his organizer was discovered and concepts of homeland, Viktor remained in the United Viktor Hamburger died 12 June 2001, one tissue interaction and cell determination States and in 1935 he began a nearly month shy of his 101st birthday. Born in were having their initial bloom. 50-year tenure at Washington University Landeshut, Silesia (then part of Germany; Following post-doctorates in in St Louis, including 25 years as now within Poland), Viktor grew up with a Göttingham and Berlin-Dahlem, and then chairman of the Zoology Department. He http://tins.trends.com 0166-2236/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S0166-2236(00)01961-5 674 Forum TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.24 No.11 November 2001 inspiration during Viktor’s student days. (in the 1930s) to analyses of the influence Shortly after World War II, Viktor invited of vitalism on early embryologists. The Rita Levi-Montalcini to join him at Heritage of Experimental Embryology: Washington University to investigate Hans Spemann and the Organizer3 in together what seemed to be substantial 1988 brings to the current generations a differences in trophic effects on embryonic sense of the excitement and uncertainties sensory and motor neurons. This that were present during this early period collaboration led to the first identification of discovery, illuminating the personalities of a developmental growth factor, nerve and conceptual perspectives of key growth factor (NGF), which is essential for researchers involved. the differentiation and survival of many sensory and sympathetic (but not motor) ‘…Viktor’s interests and life perspectives neurons. Viktor certainly appreciated the were very much a melding of natural irony that decades of unsuccessful sciences with philosophy, literature and attempts to isolate the chemical nature of the arts.’ Spemann’s Organizer were eclipsed by this discovery of a neuron-specific trophic Viktor touched all who knew him with Portrait photo courtesy of Washington University factor. Today, many growth factors, often his wisdom, dignity, generosity and archives. acting in concert, are known to modulate kindness. He had little patience for cell phenotype in embryonic and adult imprecision of thought or language, in also participated for many years in the tissues, and several of Viktor’s early NGF science and also other endeavors, but Embryology Course at the Marine collaborators shared in receiving the taught always by example rather than Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, Nobel Prize in 1986. criticism. In his presence discussions continuing the fondness for comparative seemed more purposeful and disciplined, embryology developed earlier. His Manual ‘[Viktor’s] Manual of Experimental yet his conversations betrayed a of Experimental Embryology1, first Embryology, first published in 1942, wonderful, often playful, sense of humor. published in 1942, demystified accessing demystified accessing and manipulating Viktor knew and worked with many of the and manipulating early embryos for early embryos for several generations of founders of experimental embryology several generations of students. students.’ during the first half of the 20th century, While embracing the methods of and of neuroembryology in the second half. experimental embryology, which Viktor, however, turned his attention to However, he did not dwell upon this past combined an analytical approach with the functional aspects of neurogenesis, with nostalgia or sentimentality.