Eduardo Braun-Menéndez
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Braun-Menéndez was a noted Argentine physiologist.
, he was a naturalized Argentine citizen from a very early age, and was raised in Buenos Aires
.
He studied at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires
, choosing cardiovascular medicine and physiology
as his specialties. His doctoral thesis dealt with the relationship between the pituitary gland and diencephalon
to blood pressure
, and was developed at the Institute of Physiology under the supervision of Noble laureate
Dr. Bernardo Houssay
, in 1934. After receiving his doctoral degree, he went to England
to study at the University College London
, where he investigated the metabolism
of the heart
.
On his return from England he joined the prestigious team at the Institute of Physiology, with Luis Federico Leloir
, Juan Fasciolo, Juan Muñoz, and Alberto Taquini
to work for a few years on the mechanism of nephrogenic hypertension
. He made the most important discovery in his career during this research, that of angiotensin
, in 1939.
At the Institute, Braun-Menéndez became a research leader in cardiovascular physiology in 1945, and served as a senior lecturer and teaching assistant in the same area until 1946. He directed the Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine
until 1946 and was also the head of electrocardiography and physiotherapy at the Municipal Institute of Radiology and Physiotherapy of Buenos Aires. He returned as Houssay Chair at the Institute of Physiology in 1955, as served as Professor. In addition, he was a member of the Buenos Aires National Academy of Medicine
and was honored with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of California
and the University of Brazil. In addition, he was vice president of the Argentine Society of Biology and secretary of the Argentine Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He received the National Award for Science twice.
Braun-Menéndez also helped to create the important scientific journal Ciencia y Investigación which published its first issue in 1945 and was directed by him until 1959, when he died. Another of his initiatives was the Acta Physiologica Latinoamericana, a publication written in multiple languages for the publication of the work of Latin America
n physiologists.
Dr. Braun-Menéndez died in a plane crash near Mar del Plata
with his daughter on January 16, 1959. The accident was Austral Air Lines
' first.
Life and work
Born in Punta Arenas, ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, he was a naturalized Argentine citizen from a very early age, and was raised in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
He studied at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, choosing cardiovascular medicine and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
as his specialties. His doctoral thesis dealt with the relationship between the pituitary gland and diencephalon
Diencephalon
The diencephalon is the region of the vertebrate neural tube which gives rise to posterior forebrain structures. In development, the forebrain develops from the prosencephalon, the most anterior vesicle of the neural tube which later forms both the diencephalon and the...
to blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
, and was developed at the Institute of Physiology under the supervision of Noble laureate
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
Dr. Bernardo Houssay
Bernardo Houssay
-External links:* * . WhoNamedIt.* . Nobel Foundation....
, in 1934. After receiving his doctoral degree, he went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study at the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he investigated the metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
of the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
.
On his return from England he joined the prestigious team at the Institute of Physiology, with Luis Federico Leloir
Luis Federico Leloir
Luis Federico Leloir was an Argentine doctor and biochemist who received the 1970 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was the first Spanish-speaking scientist to ever receive the award...
, Juan Fasciolo, Juan Muñoz, and Alberto Taquini
Alberto Carlos Taquini
Alberto Carlos Taquini was an Argentine cardiologist, clinical resarcher and academic.-Life and work:Taquini was born in Buenos Aires to Carlota Castiglioni and Alberto Taquini. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires, and graduated with a Medical Degree in 1929...
to work for a few years on the mechanism of nephrogenic hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
. He made the most important discovery in his career during this research, that of angiotensin
Angiotensin
Angiotensin, a peptide hormone, causes blood vessels to constrict, and drives blood pressure up. It is part of the renin-angiotensin system, which is a major target for drugs that lower blood pressure. Angiotensin also stimulates the release of aldosterone, another hormone, from the adrenal cortex...
, in 1939.
At the Institute, Braun-Menéndez became a research leader in cardiovascular physiology in 1945, and served as a senior lecturer and teaching assistant in the same area until 1946. He directed the Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine
Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental
The Experimental Medicine and Biology Institute is a research and development centre affiliated to the University of Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.-History:...
until 1946 and was also the head of electrocardiography and physiotherapy at the Municipal Institute of Radiology and Physiotherapy of Buenos Aires. He returned as Houssay Chair at the Institute of Physiology in 1955, as served as Professor. In addition, he was a member of the Buenos Aires National Academy of Medicine
Buenos Aires National Academy of Medicine
The Buenos Aires National Academy of Medicine is an Argentine non-profit organization and learned society.-Overview:The National Academy of Medicine is the oldest medical Academy in Argentina, and was founded in Buenos Aires in 1822, coinciding with the establishment of the University of Buenos...
and was honored with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and the University of Brazil. In addition, he was vice president of the Argentine Society of Biology and secretary of the Argentine Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He received the National Award for Science twice.
Braun-Menéndez also helped to create the important scientific journal Ciencia y Investigación which published its first issue in 1945 and was directed by him until 1959, when he died. Another of his initiatives was the Acta Physiologica Latinoamericana, a publication written in multiple languages for the publication of the work of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n physiologists.
Dr. Braun-Menéndez died in a plane crash near Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
with his daughter on January 16, 1959. The accident was Austral Air Lines
Austral Líneas Aéreas
Austral Líneas Aéreas , more commonly known by its shortened name Austral, is a domestic airline of Argentina, the sister company of Aerolíneas Argentinas. It is the second largest domestic scheduled airline in the country, after Aerolíneas Argentinas itself...
' first.