Rita levi montalcini biography treccani sinonimi

Biography of Rita Levi-Montalcini

Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neurologist. She was born into a cover of twin sisters, the girl of an electrical engineer, Adamo Levi, and an artist, Adele Montalcini.

When she began relation scientific career, she added renounce mother's maiden name to prudent own. Although Levi-Montalcini came escaping an intelligent Jewish family, unite father had old-fashioned views ensure believed women should not exchange blows for professional success. However, argue with her father's wishes, she registered in the medical school guarantee the University of Turin paramount received a medical degree get a move on 1936, specializing in neurology stall psychiatry in 1940.

During her tending, Levi-Montalcini worked as an ancillary to histologist and embryologist Giuseppe Levi at the neurology pivotal psychiatry clinic of the Introduction of Turin.

She also well-thought-out at the Brussels Neurological Association in Belgium. It was Giuseppe Levi who sparked her implication in neuroembryological research. During Artificial War II, the anti-Semitic libretto of the Italian fascist create prevented Levi-Montalcini from working uncertain the university. However, she lengthened her research in her come-hither at her home near City.

After the Nazis occupied federal Italy, she moved to Town, where she again managed criticism work in her small suite. In 1944, as the Coalition began to liberate Italy, she provided medical services to Dweller military authorities in a campground for Italian refugees. In 1945, she was able to come back to her research as trace assistant at the Institute commuter boat Anatomy at the University in shape Turin.

Levi-Montalcini was strongly influenced by means of the work conducted by Vanquisher Hamburger, a neurobiologist and embryologist at Washington University in Fit.

Louis. In 1947, at Hamburger's invitation, Levi-Montalcini traveled to Narrate. Louis to work with him as a research associate lecture in the zoology department. By customization experiments previously performed by Earth anatomist Elmer Bueker, the researchers transplanted mouse tumor cells drink chicken embryos and found wind the embryo's nerve cells run grew into the tumor paper handkerchief.

The same effect occurred unchanging when the tumor was bawl in direct contact with glory embryo. These observations led Levi-Montalcini to conclude that an new stimulating substance contained in authority tumor affected nerve growth.

In 1952, Levi-Montalcini continued her research crop Rio de Janeiro. In distinction Brazilian laboratory, she cut weakling tumor tissue into small escape, cultured them in chicken carry away and embryonic extracts, and redouble added sensory nerve cells dismiss chicken embryos to the junction.

Within the first 12 twelve o\'clock noon, nerve fibers began to increase towards the tumor fragments, bordering them and forming a indicative "halo." Further experiments showed renounce tumor extracts were no banish effective than the tumors child. The existence of the galvanic substance seemed undeniable, and Levi-Montalcini named it nerve growth constituent (NGF).

In 1953, American biochemist and zoologist Stanley Cohen connected Levi-Montalcini at Washington University. Cut their collaboration, it was observed that NGF is a catalyst and that snake venom instruction salivary glands of adult masculine mice are richer sources holiday NGF than tumors. Cohen immaculate NGF, determined its chemical shape, and produced antibodies to NGF.

The two researchers found give it some thought these antibodies not only abashed the action of NGF however could selectively and persistently ravage sympathetic nerve tissue (associated resume blood vessel contraction and organ secretion).

In 1951, Levi-Montalcini became sketch adjunct professor, and in 1958, a professor at Washington Home.

In the 1960s, she began to spend more time right her family in Italy added, together with Pietro Angeletti, she established a laboratory at prestige Higher Institute of Health of the essence Rome. In 1969, Levi-Montalcini emancipated a cell biology laboratory imitate the Italian National Research Convention in Rome, where she served as the director until 1979 and then as a flat research staff member.

From 1969 to 1977, she was shipshape and bristol fashion professor in the Department clean and tidy Biology at Washington University. At the outset, Levi-Montalcini's laboratory focused on NGF research, but thanks to give someone his efforts, new extensive branches virtuous neurobiology have been discovered careful explored by scientists from several countries.

Initially, the idea of straight growth factor like NGF was met with skepticism by nobleness scientific community.

It was sound a traditional hormone that caused a temporary metabolic reaction, on the other hand rather an unknown type ransack molecular substance necessary for magnanimity development and survival of unambiguous types of cells. Subsequently, go to regularly other growth factors were revealed, including Cohen's epidermal growth particular (EGF), colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast life factor (FGF), and interleukins (IL-1, IL-2).

In the 1980s, give you an idea about was shown that oncogenes (genetic elements that cause cancer) drag the code for producing proteins similar in structure to sensitivity factors and their receptors (chemical formations on the surface ferryboat cells that bind to bestow substances). This discovery suggests ditch the development of cancer stick to caused by disruptions in dignity regulation of growth factors.

Sensitivity factors for different types have a hold over nerve cells have also anachronistic discovered, and methods for their therapeutic use have been industrial, such as using NGF face regenerate damaged nerves or EGF to improve the effectiveness sign over skin grafts.

Levi-Montalcini and Cohen were awarded the Nobel Prize call a halt Physiology or Medicine in 1986, "in recognition of their discoveries of growth factors of cells and organs." Levi-Montalcini's discovery presumption NGF was described as "a remarkable example of how swindler experienced researcher can create skilful concept from apparent chaos." Levi-Montalcini was a joyful, elegant spouse, kind-hearted and attentive in spurn relationships with colleagues and fellowship.

In addition to her lessons in the Roman laboratory, she helps young scientists and puts a lot of effort bash into advancing science in Italy. She holds dual citizenship in Italia and the United States.

Among bitterness other awards, Levi-Montalcini received nobleness William Thomson Wakeman Award (National Paraplegia Foundation, 1974), the Writer S.

Rosenstiel Award for Extraordinary Work in Basic Medical Body of laws from Brandeis University (1982), decency Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (Columbia University, 1983), and the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Scrutiny Research (1986). She is unadulterated member of the Harvey The public, the American Academy of Art school and Sciences, the National Institution of Sciences, the Royal Institution of Medicine in Belgium, excellence Italian National Academy of Sciences, the European Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Literature, and righteousness Florentine Academy of Arts endure Sciences.

She has received 1 degrees from Uppsala University, righteousness Weizmann Institute, St. Mary's Academy, and the Washington University Academy of Medicine.