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Rita Levi-Montalcini Y La Perseverancia En El Camino De La Ciencia

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Rita Levi-Montalcini Y La Perseverancia En El Camino De La Ciencia ANALES MEDICOS Volumen Número Octubre-Diciembre Volume 49 Number 4 October-December 2004 Artículo: Rita Levi-Montalcini y la perseverancia en el camino de la ciencia Derechos reservados, Copyright © 2004: Asociación Médica del American British Cowdray Hospital, AC Otras secciones de Others sections in este sitio: this web site: ☞ Índice de este número ☞ Contents of this number ☞ Más revistas ☞ More journals ☞ Búsqueda ☞ Search edigraphic.com ANALES Historia y filosofía de la medicina MEDICOS HOSPITAL ABC Vol. 49, Núm. 4 Oct. - Dic. 2004 pp. 208 - 216 Rita Levi-Montalcini y la perseverancia en el camino de la ciencia Max Shein K,* Ana Cecilia Rodríguez de Romo** RESUMEN ABSTRACT La historia de Rita Levi Montalcini es la de perseverancia en el ca- The history of Rita Levi Montalcini is one of perseverance in the mino de la investigación científica que la lleva a recibir el Premio field of scientific investigation which her to receive the Nobel Prize Nobel a la edad de 77 años, por el descubrimiento del factor nervio- in medicine at age 77 years of age for the discovery of the Nerve so del crecimiento en 1986. Growth factor (NGF) in 1986. Palabras clave: Investigación científica, Key words: Scientific investigation, factor nervioso del crecimiento, Premio Nobel en Medicina nervous growth factor (NGF), Nobel Prize in Medicine INTRODUCCIÓN siglo XX, se ignoraba mucho acerca del desarrollo del sistema nervioso. Se ignoraba cómo se dife- Rita Levi Montalcini ganó el Premio Nobel de Me- renciaban las células nerviosas, cómo sus axones dicina en 1986, por haber descubierto el factor ner- establecían las sinapsis, cuál era la naturaleza de vioso de crecimiento (FNC), pero el personaje es los mensajes químicos con los que se comunican. tan versátil, que despierta los más diversos intere- El descubrimiento de Rita Levi-Montalcini con- ses y curiosidades. En este ensayo nos referiremos testó esas preguntas y sigue contestando otras, a dos facetas de esta investigadora italiana, la cien- pues en nuestros días se ha visto que la deficiencia tífica y la personal. del factor nervioso de crecimiento está relaciona- Uno de nosotros se sintió atraído por el contex- da con enfermedades como la de Huntington y Al- to y el momento histórico de una mujer excepcio- zheimer. nal, el otro por la saga de un descubrimiento lleno El modelo experimental más utilizado era el po- de hechos fortuitos magníficamente aprovechados llo, porque su desarrollo embriológico es muy rápi- por una científica genuina. Nuestra investigación do y el tejido nervioso se impregna muy bien de las demuestra que aunque el descubrimiento del fac- sales de plata, lo que permite observarlo adecuada- tor nervioso de crecimiento fue realizado en pleno mente al microscopio. El Premio Nobel otorgado a Rita Levi-Montalci- ni estuvo rodeado de un halo de controversia. No pocos científicos se preguntaron porqué no se había * Sociedad Mexicana de Historia y Filosofía de la Medicina. ** Departamento de Historia y Filosofía de la Medicina Facultad de Medicina, premiado también a Viktor Hamburguer (1900- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 2001), quien invitó a Rita a Estados Unidos y en Recibido para publicación: 01/12/04. Aceptado para publicación: 16/12/04.edigraphic.comcuyo laboratorio ella realizó el descubrimiento. No- Correspondencia: Dr. Max Shein K sotros estamos muy lejos de pretender aclarar esa Prado Sur 290, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 México, D. F. situación, sólo nos abocamos a poner en la mesa al E-mail: [email protected] Dra. Ana Cecilia Rodríguez de Romo personaje, a su trabajo en la ciencia y externamos E-mail: [email protected] nuestra conclusión particular. Shein KM, Rodríguez RAC. Rita Levi-Montalcini y la perseverancia en el camino de la ciencia 209 An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC 2004; 49 (4): 208-216 DETERMINANTES DE UNA VIDA y brillantes intelectualmente. La joven percibió esta situación, la aceptó, no pretendió modificarla, lo que Rita Levi-Montalcini nació en Turín, Italia, el 22 de tampoco significaba que le gustara; así que, inteli- abril de 1909, dicen sus biógrafos en el seno de una gentemente, decidió que sería ella la que cambiaría familia judía de descendencia sefardita, es decir, es- su propia conducta y no aceptaría las reglas masculi- pañola. En realidad su padre, Adamo Levi, pertene- nas. Hay diversos ejemplos en su vida que ilustran lo cía a una rama mucho más antigua de la Judea en el anterior. Entre los estudiosos de Rita Levi-Montalci- Medio Oriente, que sería conquistada por el Empera- ni, es conocida su decisión de no casarse para su- dor Tito Flavio Vespasiano en el año 70 de nuestra puestamente dedicarse por completo a la ciencia. En era. Muchos habitantes de la Judea bíblica emigra- efecto, Rita nunca se casó, pero siendo muy joven ron a Roma y mantuvieron su identidad hasta nues- tuvo un pretendiente, también estudiante de medici- tro tiempo; entre ellos, los de apellido Levi, derivado na, que quiso mucho y falleció. Es difícil saber qué de su pertenencia a los levitas (leviim) o ciudadanos hubiera sucedido realmente si ese joven no hubiera ayudantes de los sacerdotes del “Segundo Templo muerto y, según ella, para decidir compartir la vida de Jerusalén”. Del mismo origen es el apellido del con alguien, hay que considerar la diferencia de tem- maestro de Rita: Giuseppe Levi. peramento y los intereses culturales, concepto verda- Los levitas se mantuvieron como una de las clases dero, pero utópico en la vida real. más cultivadas que participaron en la creación de la Rita Levi-Montalcini posee una gran curiosidad República Italiana a finales del siglo XIX. Por men- intelectual, es culta y sensible. Sus escritos no cien- cionar algunos: los antecesores del famoso escritor tíficos están llenos de referencias a los sentimientos Primo Levi, sobreviviente del Holocausto, de Natalia que le evocan una pintura, un paisaje o una pieza li- Levi de Ginzburg, la laureada escritora italiana y su teraria. Sólo por dar un ejemplo, refiriéndose a los hijo Carlo Ginzburg Levi uno de los más sobresa- árboles en el otoño del lugar donde vivió en Esta- lientes microhistoriadores contemporáneos. dos Unidos expresaría: “la costumbre moderaría mi Además de una familia especial a la que se puede sensación de arrebato ante ese traje de gala del que calificar de intelectual, Rita Levi-Montalcini poseía se viste la naturaleza antes de caer en el letargo in- una personalidad peculiar —desde muy pequeña dio vernal.” muestras de ser muy inteligente, persistente y curio- De su intenso feminismo dan muestra sus opinio- sa— y tuvo ciertas experiencias de vida que facilita- nes y actitudes que expresan su rebelión contra el ron su éxito científico y el desarrollo de su vocación. sexo opuesto. Se considera privilegiada portadora de Rita es el primer producto de un parto gemelar dos cromosomas X y tener “innata aversión a esa ac- fraterno. Con Paola la gemela fallecida hace sólo dos tividad tan típicamente femenina” (tejer). años, mantuvo una íntima y constante relación. Sus Quizá también otro factor determinante en su éxi- otros dos hermanos fueron Gino, siete años mayor to fue definir bien las prioridades de cada momento, que ella y Anna cinco. La diferencia de edades hizo actitud que, llanamente expresada, bien podría inter- que la relación con esos hermanos no fuera tan estre- pretarse como una forma de egoísmo. Cuando su cha como con Paola. Su padre era ingeniero y dueño madre estaba agonizando en Turín, ella prácticamen- de una fábrica de hielo; sus hijas lo describen de te acababa de regresar a Italia, así que se fue a Roma temperamento explosivo y personalidad enérgica, para ver cómo iba su nuevo laboratorio y no alcanzó dominante y autoritaria. Sin embargo, Rita nunca a su madre viva cuando retornó a su ciudad natal. cuestionó su amor y lo admiraba mucho, aunque su Al terminar la educación básica expresó su deseo relación fue difícil. Su madre Adele fue una escrito- de seguir estudiando, pero su padre determinó que ra frustrada, esposa reservada y sumisa. Rita recibióedigraphic.comella y Paola asistirían a una escuela femenina de se- la influencia de un padre cuidadoso de mantener las gunda enseñanza para aprender a ser buenas esposas tradiciones familiares, pero al mismo tiempo van- y madres. Sin embargo, a los veinte años, manifestó guardista y de una madre cultivada, pero obediente su deseo de estudiar medicina. Rita Levi relata en su de los roles de poder en el matrimonio, los dos cultos autobiografía que lo decidió así, cuando, en la más Shein KM, Rodríguez RAC. Rita Levi-Montalcini y la perseverancia en el camino de la ciencia MG 210 An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC 2004; 49 (4): 208-216 profunda impotencia, vio morir a su querida nana de contraba la embriología del sistema:rop odarobalenervioso; enton- FDP cáncer de estómago. ces se sabía muy poco de su desarrollo y Levi pensó Su padre se mostró renuente, pero le dijo: “Si es que hacer eso podríaVC ed ayudar AS, cidemihparG a entender si el número en realidad lo que quieres, no me opondré a tu cami- de células de ciertos grupos nerviosos dependía de no, aunque estoy dudoso de tu elección”. Rita estu- factores ambientales o estaba predeterminado.arap dió filosofía, literatura e historia para preparar el Al terminar sus estudios de medicina en 1936, examen de ingreso a la Escuela de Medicina, lo que RitaacidémoiB Levi pensó arutaretiL especializarse :cihpargideM en neurología y psi- sucedió en 1930. Dos años después su padre murió sustraídode-m.e.d.i.g.r.a.p.h.i.cquiatría, pero tal deseo se vio frustrado a causa del repentinamente de un infarto al miocardio. Manifiesto de Defensa de la Raza de Benito Musso- En ese tiempo había sólo siete mujeres entre 300 lini que prohibió la presencia de los judíos en las hombres en la Escuela de Medicina de Turín y sus universidades.
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