Ulf von Euler

Ulf Svante von Euler (7 February 1905 – 9 March 1983) was a Swedish physiologist and pharmacologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of neurotransmitters in the human body. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970 for his discoveries concerning the humoral transmittors in the nerve terminals and the mechanism for their storage, release, and inactivation. Von Euler shared the prize with Bernard Katz and Julius Axelrod, highlighting the importance of their collective work in the field of neuroscience.

Early Life and Education

Ulf von Euler was born in Stockholm, the son of Hans von Euler-Chelpin, who was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1929. Growing up in an environment that fostered scientific inquiry, von Euler pursued his education in medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, where he received his medical degree in 1930. He continued his research at the institute, focusing on the physiology and pharmacology of the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Career and Research

Von Euler's early work involved the study of the vasoconstrictor effects of the sympathetic nervous system. His research led to the discovery of a substance he named "substance P," which was later identified as a neuropeptide involved in pain perception and the inflammatory response. This discovery opened new avenues for research into pain and sensory functions in the nervous system.

In the 1940s, von Euler discovered noradrenaline (norepinephrine) as a neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system, a finding that was crucial for understanding the chemical transmission of nerve impulses. This work laid the foundation for much of modern neuropharmacology and contributed significantly to the development of antidepressant and antihypertensive drugs.

Throughout his career, von Euler held various academic positions, including a professorship in physiology at the Karolinska Institute. He was also a member of numerous scientific societies and received several prestigious awards and honors in addition to the Nobel Prize.

Legacy

Ulf von Euler's contributions to medicine and physiology have had a lasting impact on the field of neuroscience. His work on neurotransmitters has been fundamental in the development of treatments for a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Von Euler's research demonstrated the importance of chemical messengers in the nervous system, paving the way for future discoveries in neurochemistry and pharmacology.

Selected Works

• Discovery of substance P
• Identification of noradrenaline as a neurotransmitter
• Studies on the mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and inactivation

Awards and Honors

• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1970
• Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Foreign Member of the Royal Society

Death

Ulf von Euler passed away on 9 March 1983 in Stockholm, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the fields of neuroscience and pharmacology.