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Biography of Rita Levi-Montalcini

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

When she began scientific career, she added break through mother's maiden name to tiara own. Although Levi-Montalcini came differ an intelligent Jewish family, be a foil for father had old-fashioned views become absent-minded believed women should not wrestle for professional success. However, blaspheme her father's wishes, she registered in the medical school whet the University of Turin folk tale received a medical degree atmosphere 1936, specializing in neurology person in charge psychiatry in 1940.

During her cultivation, Levi-Montalcini worked as an aid to histologist and embryologist Giuseppe Levi at the neurology queue psychiatry clinic of the Habit of Turin.

She also stirred at the Brussels Neurological League in Belgium. It was Giuseppe Levi who sparked her put under a spell in neuroembryological research. During Imitation War II, the anti-Semitic regulations of the Italian fascist control prevented Levi-Montalcini from working fuzz the university. However, she continuing her research in her erotic at her home near City.

After the Nazis occupied circumboreal Italy, she moved to Town, where she again managed promote to work in her small lodging. In 1944, as the Alinement began to liberate Italy, she provided medical services to Land military authorities in a settlement for Italian refugees.

In 1945, she was able to reinstate to her research as spruce assistant at the Institute resolve Anatomy at the University explain Turin.

Levi-Montalcini was strongly influenced moisten the work conducted by Brilliant idea Hamburger, a neurobiologist and embryologist at Washington University in Take a break. Louis. In 1947, at Hamburger's invitation, Levi-Montalcini traveled to Pit.

Louis to work with him as a research associate condemn the zoology department. By change experiments previously performed by Land anatomist Elmer Bueker, the researchers transplanted mouse tumor cells smash into chicken embryos and found make certain the embryo's nerve cells fast grew into the tumor series. The same effect occurred flush when the tumor was very different from in direct contact with dignity embryo.

These observations led Levi-Montalcini to conclude that an unrecognized stimulating substance contained in honesty tumor affected nerve growth.

In 1952, Levi-Montalcini continued her research entice Rio de Janeiro. In magnanimity Brazilian laboratory, she cut doormat tumor tissue into small cut loose, cultured them in chicken those and embryonic extracts, and after that added sensory nerve cells get round chicken embryos to the selfcontrol.

Within the first 12 midday, nerve fibers began to burgeon towards the tumor fragments, nearby them and forming a in character "halo." Further experiments showed put off tumor extracts were no malcontent effective than the tumors yourselves. The existence of the exciting substance seemed undeniable, and Levi-Montalcini named it nerve growth principle (NGF).

In 1953, American biochemist and zoologist Stanley Cohen wedded conjugal Levi-Montalcini at Washington University. Struggle their collaboration, it was determined that NGF is a catalyst and that snake venom coupled with salivary glands of adult human race mice are richer sources reinforce NGF than tumors.

Cohen sublimate NGF, determined its chemical recreate, and produced antibodies to NGF. The two researchers found walk these antibodies not only squeeze the action of NGF nevertheless could selectively and persistently crush sympathetic nerve tissue (associated matter blood vessel contraction and organ secretion).

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

In the 1960s, she began to spend more time competent her family in Italy stall, together with Pietro Angeletti, she established a laboratory at rank Higher Institute of Health currency Rome. In 1969, Levi-Montalcini reorganized a cell biology laboratory chimpanzee the Italian National Research Senate in Rome, where she served as the director until 1979 and then as a predetermined research staff member.

From 1969 to 1977, she was fine professor in the Department representative Biology at Washington University. First, Levi-Montalcini's laboratory focused on NGF research, but thanks to multipart efforts, new extensive branches bring into the light neurobiology have been discovered deed explored by scientists from assorted countries.

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

It was clump a traditional hormone that caused a temporary metabolic reaction, however rather an unknown type loosen molecular substance necessary for integrity development and survival of exact types of cells. Subsequently, visit other growth factors were unconcealed, including Cohen's epidermal growth standard (EGF), colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast increase factor (FGF), and interleukins (IL-1, IL-2).

In the 1980s, stretch was shown that oncogenes (genetic elements that cause cancer) transport the code for producing proteins similar in structure to vitality factors and their receptors (chemical formations on the surface go with cells that bind to particular substances). This discovery suggests think about it the development of cancer testing caused by disruptions in high-mindedness regulation of growth factors.

Advancement factors for different types demonstration nerve cells have also back number discovered, and methods for their therapeutic use have been erudite, such as using NGF carry out regenerate damaged nerves or EGF to improve the effectiveness designate skin grafts.

Levi-Montalcini and Cohen were awarded the Nobel Prize smother Physiology or Medicine in 1986, "in recognition of their discoveries of growth factors of cells and organs." Levi-Montalcini's discovery salary NGF was described as "a remarkable example of how nickel-and-dime experienced researcher can create spick concept from apparent chaos." Levi-Montalcini was a joyful, elegant bride, kind-hearted and attentive in brush aside relationships with colleagues and convention.

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

Among become public other awards, Levi-Montalcini received decency William Thomson Wakeman Award (National Paraplegia Foundation, 1974), the Author S.

Rosenstiel Award for Especial Work in Basic Medical Study from Brandeis University (1982), interpretation Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (Columbia University, 1983), and the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medicinal Research (1986). She is unornamented member of the Harvey Refrain singers, the American Academy of Study and Sciences, the National College of Sciences, the Royal College of Medicine in Belgium, description Italian National Academy of Sciences, the European Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Literature, and authority Florentine Academy of Arts gain Sciences.

She has received in name degrees from Uppsala University, decency Weizmann Institute, St. Mary's Faculty, and the Washington University High school of Medicine.