Bernardo Alberto Justino Houssay, Argentine physiologist (Buenos Aires 10 April 1887 – Buenos Aires 21 September 1971)

Son of French immigrants 

ACHIEVEMENTS

Authored over 500 papers and several books

Determined that the cortex of the adrenal gland is indispensable to life

With J.T. Lewis. The relative importance to life of cortex and medulla of the adrenal glands. Am. J. Physiol. 64:512-21, 1923

Discovered adrenaline-secretory-hypothalamic center

With E.A. Molinelli. Centro adrenalino-secretor-hipotalâmico. Rev. Soc. Argent. Biol. 1:600, 1925

With E.A. Molinelli. Centre adrenaline-sécrétion-hypothalamique. C.R. Soc. Biol. 93:145, 1925

 With A. B. Biasotti discovered that pituitary anterior lobe played an important role in carbohydrates metabolism in blood stream and that it was possible to control the metabolism by equilibrium of distinct hormones (1929)

Discovered sugar oxidation in blood depends on a complex interaction between insulin and other hormones such as prolactin and somatotropin 

Demonstrated the diabetogenic effect of the anterior pituitary, its relationship with carbohydrate metabolism, and its antagonistic role to insulin (1929-45)

With A. Biasotti. Hypophysectomie et diabete pancreatique. Archs Int. Pharmacodyn. 38:250, 1930

The hypophysis, carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes. Endocrinology 15:511, 1931 

With A. Biasotti & C.T. Rietti. Action diabetogene de l’extrait ante-hypophysaire. C.R. Soc. Biol. 111:479, 1932

With A. Biasotti & C.T. Rietti. Propriétes diabetogeniques de l’extrait ante-hypophysaire chez divers espéces et avec different régimes. C.R. Soc. Biol. 115:325, 1934

Advancement of knowledge of the role of the hypophysis in carbohydrate metabolism during the last twenty five years. Endocrinology 30:884, 1942

Demonstrated pancreas graft between carotid and jugular veins in dogs regulated the glycemia

With J.T. Lewis & V.G. Foglia. Action compensatrice ou preventive de la greffe pancreatique sur la glycémie diabétique ou normale. C.R. Soc. Biol. 100:140, 1929

Proved pituitary diabetogenic effect depends on liver 

With E. Di Benedetto. Role de divers organes et du systeme nerveux dans la production de l’hyperglycémies rétropituitaire. C.R. Soc. Biol. 114:795, 1933 

With A. Biasotti. Hypophysectomie et diabete pancreatique. Archs Int. Pharmacodyn. 38:250, 1930

The hypophysis, carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes. Endocrinology 15:511, 1931 

Noted the existence of a diabetogenic principle derived from pars distalis acting through adrenal glands (1930)

Houssay dogs or animal

With A. Biasotti. Les troubles diabétiques chez les chiens privés de hypophyse et de pancreas. C.R. Soc. Biol. 105:124, 1930

Houssay phenomenon, Houssay syndrome

With A. Biasotti. La diabetes pancreatica de los perros hipofisoprivos. Rev. Soc. Argent. Biol. 6:251, 1930

With A. Biasotti. Pankreas diabetes und Hypophyse beim Hund. Pfluger’s Arch. Ges. Physiol. 227:664, 1931

First observed metahypophysary diabetes (term which coined) and distinguished it from hypophysary diabetes

With A. Biasotti & C.T. Rietti. Action diabetogene de l’extrait ante-hypophysaire. C.R. Soc. Biol. 111:479, 1932

Demonstrated the hormonal regulation of lipid metabolism

With J.T. Lewis & C.T. Rietti. Hiperglucemia, glucosuria y cetonuria por inyecciones de extracto antero-hipofisário. Bol. Acad. Nac. Med. Buenos Aires 171 (1932)

With E.J. Urgoiti & C.T. Rietti. Hypophyseal and adrenal factors essential for ketoacidosis of pancreatectomized dogs. Diabetes 12:301, 1963

Hormonal factors of diabetic ketosis (1963)

Demonstrated the role of the thyroid in carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes

Acción de la tiroides sobre el metabolismo de los hidratos de carbono y en la diabetes (1945)

The action of the thyroid on diabetes. Recent Horm. Res. 2:277, 1948 

Demonstrated hypertension is due to a pressor action substance (renin) in ischemic kidneys (1937-8)

With J.C. Fasciolo. Demonstración del mecanismo humoral de la hipertensíón nefrógena. Rev. Arg. Cardiol. 4:362, 1937

With J.C. Fasciolo. Secretion hypertensive du rein ischémique. C.R. Soc. Biol. 127:147, 1938

With C. Galli-Mainini discovered that pregnant women urine caused spermatozoa release in male frog

Giusti-Houssay hypophysectomy

With L. Giusti. Altérations cutanées chez les crapauds hypophysectomisés. C.R. Soc. Biol. 85:597, 1921

With L. Giusti. Modifications cutanées et genitales produits chez le crapaud par l’extirpation de l’hypophyse ou par lesion du cerveau. C.R. Soc. Biol. 91:313, 1924

With L. Giusti. Les fonctions de l’hypophyse et de la region infundibulo-tubérienne chez le Crapaud. C.R. Soc. Biol. 101:935, 1929

Demonstrated anterior lobe effect on spawning in female frogs and toad

With L. Giusti & J.M. Lascano Gonzalez. Implantation d’hypophyse et stimulation des glandes et des fonctions sexuelles du crapaud. C.R. Soc. Biol. 102:864, 1929

Demonstrated that adrenaline stimulates hepatic glycogenolisis

Houssay-Gerschman technique for liver perfusion

With R. Gerschman. Acción del aloxano sobre la glucogenolisis hepatica por adrenalina. Rev. Soc. Arg. Biol. 23:28, 1947

With R. Gerschman. Glucogenolisis hepatica por adrenalina y simpatina en sapos normales y hipofisoprivos. Rev. Soc. Argent. Biol. 23:72, 1947

First employed the meal-feeding scheme

With C. Martínez. Experimental diabetes and diet. Science 105:548-9, 1947

Demonstrated that the flow of portal vessels was descending and went from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland (before G.B. Wislocki & L.S. King 1936)

With R. Sanmartino. Modificaciones producidas por las lesiones infundibulo-tuberianas en el sapo. Rev. Soc. Argent. Biol. 11:318, 1935

First to use pituitary implants in fishes (1931)

Performed important studies about snakes and spiders toxin developing a protecting serum against certain spiders toxins

Authored Human Physiology (1945) translated into English, French, Italian and Portuguese

Other Contributions

Phenolemia and indoxy-lemia. Their origin, significancy and regulation. Am. J. Med. Sci. 192:615, 1936

With P. Mazzocco & D. Potick. Origine de l’indoxy – le sanguine. C.R. Soc. Biol. 17:1235, 1934

With A.D. Marenzi. Physiologie des phenols. Revue Sud-Am. Med. Chir. 2:673, 1931

Classification des actions des venins de serpents sur l’organisme animal. C.R. Soc. Biol. 105:308, 1930

With D. Potick. Antagonisme entre l’hypophys et l’ insuline chez le crapaud. C.R. Soc. Biol. 101:940, 1929

Comparative Endocrinology

La hipofisis de la rana. Rev. Univ. Buenos Aires 13:89, 1910

With L. Giusti & R. Lahille. Fisiologia comparada del principio active hipotensor y leiomiocinetico de la hipófisis. Revta. Cir. Med. Argent. Cent. Estud. Med. 12:257, 1912

Experimental studies in the frog. Endocrinology 1(3):359, 1917

Recherches experimentales sur l’hypophyse de la grenouille (Leptodactylus ocellatus (L.)). J. Physiol. Path. Gen. 18(3):406, 1917

Acción del suero de perro normal o en tetania sobre el Musculo de sapo y rana. Revta. Asoc. Med. Argent. 156:641, 1917

Action des extraits hypophysaires sur la diurese chez la chien et le lapin. C.R. Soc. Biol. 83:1248, 1920

Metabolisme hidrocarboné chez les animaux sans surrénales. C.R. Soc. Biol. 84:164, 1921

Sensibilité des animaux ethyroidés enversi les toxins et le bacille diphthérique. C.R. Soc. Biol. 85:677, 1921

With E. Hug. La tiroidectomia en los caballos y bovinos. Revta. Circ. Med. Argent. Cent. Estud. Med. 21:217, 1921

With A. Sordelli & P. Mazzocco. Action comparée de l’insuline sur diverses espéces animales. C.R. Soc. Biol. 89:744, 1923

With C.T. Rietti. Action de l’insuline sur les vertébrés poikilothermes. C.R. Soc. Biol. 91:27, 1924

Las funciones de la hipofisis en las larvas de los batracios anuros y en los urodelos, en los peces y reptiles (resumen critico). Revta. Asoc.Med. Argent. 37:145, 1924 / Rev. Soc. Argent. Biol. 5:145, 1924

Action sexuelle de l’hypophyse sur les poissons et les reptiles. C.R.Soc. Biol. 106:377, 1931

With A. Novelli & R. Sanmartino. Hypophyse et thyroid. XV. Tiroidectomie et action excito-tiroidienne de la hypophyse des animaux thyroprives. C.R. Soc. Biol. 111:830, 1932

With A. Biasotti. Hypophyse et diabete pancreátique chez les batraciens et les reptiles. C.R. Soc. Biol. 113:469, 1933

With A. Biasotti & C.T. Rietti. Propriétes diabetogeniques de l’extrait ante-hypophysaire chez divers espéces et avec different régimes. C.R. Soc. Biol. 115:325, 1934

With F.S. Smyth, V.G. Foglia & A.B. Houssay. Comparative diabetogenic action of the hypophysis from various animals. J. Exp. Med. 75:93, 1942

Comparative physiology of the endocrine pancreas (1959) book chapter

With J.C. Penhos & N. Souto. Diabetes pancreatica en la serpiente (1959)

With J.C. Penhos. Pancreatic diabetes and hypophysectomy in snakes. Acta Endocr. 35:313, 1960

With J.C. Penhos & M.A. Luján Villamil. Total pancreatectomy in lizards. Effects of several hormones. Endocrinology 76:989, 1965

Techniques / Methods

La hipofisis de la rana. Argent. Med. 8(20):229-38, 1910 (a technique for hypophysectomy of toad Leptodactylus ocellatus in 1908-9)

Preparación rápida de las soluciones de Cl y Na para medir la resistência globular. Prensa Med. Argentina 2(24):315, 1916

With J. T. Lewis. Technique de l’extirpation de la partie medullaire des surrenales. C.R. Soc. Biol. 85:1209, 1921

Technique de la greffe pancreatique duodénale cou. C.R. Soc. Biol. 100;138, 1929

Diagnostico del embarazo por espermiación del sapo. Gaz. Med. Port. 7:165, 1954

Papers in top journals

With E.A. Molinelli. Effect of nicotine, cytosin, lobelin, coniin, piperidin and quaternary ammonias on adrenal secretion. Am. J. Physiol. 76:551, 1926

With E.A. Molinelli. Adrenal secretion during anaphylactic shock. Am. J. Physiol. 77:181, 1926

With E.A. Molinelli. Adrenal discharge produced by drugs injected into the adrenal. Am. J. Physiol. 77:184, 1926

What we learned from the toad concerning hypophyseal functions. New Engl. J. Med. 214:913, 1936

The hypophysis and metabolism. New Engl. J. Med. 214:961, 1936

Carbohydrate metabolism. New Engl. J. Med. 214:971, 1936

Asthenia hypophysopriva. New Engl. J. Med. 214:1023, 1936

Hypophysis and blood pressure. New Engl. J. Med. 214:1086, 1936

Certain relations between the parathyroids, the hypophysis and the pancreas. New Engl. J. Med. 214:1128, 1936

The hypophysis and resistance to intoxications, infections and tumors. New Engl. J. Med. 214:1137, 1936 

With E. Braun Menendez. Role of renin in experimental diabetes. Brit. J. Med. 2:179, 1942

With E.B. Menendez, J.C. Fasciolo, L.F. Leloir, J.M. Muñoz & A.C. Taquini. Angiotonin or hypertensin. Science 98(2553):495, 1943

With Ch. Dosne & V.G. Foglia. The glucose necessary to maintain the glucemia in eviscerated dogs. Am. J. Physiol. 141:1, 1944

With O. Orías & I. Sara. The mechanism of action of alloxan on blood sugar. Science 102(2643):197, 1945

With C. Martínez. Experimental diabetes and diet. Science 2734(:548-9, 1947

With C. Martínez. Alloxan diabetes in dogs with renal pedicles clamped. Nature 162(4119):571, 1948

Action of sex hormones on experimental diabetes. Brit. Med. J. ?:505, 1951

With E. Ashkar & J.J. Stevens. Role of the adrenal system in the hemodynamic response to exercise in dogs. Am. J. Physiol. 214:22, 1968

EPONYMY

Genus Houssayanthus Hunziker 1978 (Sapindaceae)

Genus Houssayella Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago 1966 (Fresh-water Porifera)

Houssay 2550 Asteroid

Houssay crater in Moon

HONORS

Physiology & Medicine Nobel Prize 1947

Dale Medal, London Society of Endocrinology 1960

Doctor Honoris Causa, Université de Paris 1935 

Doctor Honoris Causa, Harvard University 1936

Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Oxford 1947

Doctor Honoris Causa, Columbia University 1954

Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Cambridge 1960