The Nobel Chronicles

From early in his research career, [Robert Francis Furchgott] studied vascular smooth muscle responses to neurotransmitters and drugs. In 1953, he reported that acetylcholine, a potent in-vivo vasodilator, caused a paradoxical constriction of strips of rabbit aorta. He later described the light-indu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Lancet (British edition) Vol. 356; no. 9226; p. 346
Main Author Raju, Tonse NK
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Elsevier Ltd 22.07.2000
Elsevier Limited
Subjects
Careers
Furchgott, Robert F
Ignarro, Louis J
Murad, Ferid
Muscles
Nobel prizes
Personal profiles
Pharmacology
Scientists
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Summary:From early in his research career, [Robert Francis Furchgott] studied vascular smooth muscle responses to neurotransmitters and drugs. In 1953, he reported that acetylcholine, a potent in-vivo vasodilator, caused a paradoxical constriction of strips of rabbit aorta. He later described the light-induced relaxation of arteries (photorelaxation), and made several important contributions in vascular pharmacology. A chance occurrence in May, 1978, led to a major breakthrough. In one of his experiments, acetylcholine produced relaxation of aortic smooth muscles. Seeking an explanation for this unexpected finding, Furchgott learned that a technician had "carelessly" prepared an aortic strip in which the endothelium had been intact. Furchgott then pursued the study of the role of endothelium in vasodilation.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)73635-7