Rebeca Gerschman, Jewish Argentine biochemist (Carlos Casares, Buenos Aires Province 19 June 1903 – Buenos Aires 04 April 1986)

Developed Gerschman-Marenzi method for studying changes in blood potassium concentration under distinct physiopathological conditions

With A.D. Marenzi in Anales Farm. Bioquim. 3:107-11, 1932

Proposed the oxygen toxicity was due to free radicals and first introduced the notion that free radicals are toxic agents

With D.L. Gilbert, S.W. Nye, D. Dwyer & W. O. Fenn. Oxygen poisoning and x-irradiation: a mechanism in common. Science 119:623, 1954  

Demonstrated that adrenaline stimulates hepatic glycogenolisis

Houssay-Gerschman technique for liver perfusion

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

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

Proposed a type of hyperbaric chamber

Papers in top journals

With V. Popovic & D.L. Gilbert. Effect of high oxygen pressure on ground squirrels in hypothermia and hibernation.Am. J. Physiol. 206:49-50, 1964

With D. Gilbert & J.N. Frost. Sensitivity of Paramecium caudatum to high oxygen tensions and its modification by cobalt and manganese ions. Am. J. Physiol. 192(3):572-6, 1958

With D. Gilbert & D. Caccamise. Effect of various substances on survival times of mice exposed to different high oxygen tensions. Am. J. Physiol. 192(3):563-71, 1958

With W.O. Fenn, D.L Gilbert, D.E. Terwilliger & F.V. Cothran. Mutagenic effects of high oxygen tensions on Escherichia coli. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 43(12):1027-32, 1957 

With D.L. Gilbert & W.O. Fenn. Effects of fasting and X-irradiation on oxygen poisoning in mice. Am. J. Physiol. 181(2):272-4, 1955

With P.W. Nadig, A.C. Snell & S.W. Nye. Effect of high oxygen concentrations on eyes of newborn mice. Am. J. Physiol. 179(1):115-8, 1954

With D. Gilbert, S.W. Nye, P.W. Nadig & W.O. Fenn. Role of adrenalectomy and adrenal-cortical hormones in oxygen poisoning. Am. J. Physiol. 178(2):346-50, 1954

With F.O. Fenn. Ascorbic acid content of adrenal glands of rat in oxygen poisoning. Am. J. Physiol. 176(1):6-8, 1954

Medicine & Physiology Nobel Prize nominee (1980s)