THE ROLE OF HUMORAL REGULATION ON DIGESTIVE GLANDS SECRETION IN LEON POPIELSKI’S WORKS (TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH)

Abstract

April 11th, 2016 marks 150 years since the birth of the Professor of Medical Faculty of Lviv (Lemberg) University Leon Popielski (1.03.1866 – 8.10.1920), one of the leading scientists in world Gastroenterology of the 20th century, whose scientifi c community is recognized as co-author of humoral concept of gastric acid secretion. Prof. Popielski’s academic output is more than 109 scientifi c works also includes a textbook on Pharmacology for medical students. Professor Popielski’s scientifi c interests focused on control mechanisms, namely pancreatic and gastric secretion, their autonomous control and infl uence of histamine and vasodilatine. He confi rmed the existence of processes other than the conditional-refl ex mechanism, as he mentioned “peripheral” way to control the secretion of pancreatic gland (1901-1902) related to proton ions. The most important of his works is the one dedicated to histamine. During set of experiments on dogs provided during the World War I period (1916) he established his role on gastric acid secretion. However, this data has not been published till 1920 because of the war-time. Prof. Popielski works were never fragmentary, but always with efforts at explaining important issues relating to the mechanisms of development. This discovery opened new traits in science connected with other histamine functions, improvement of knowledge about its receptors and gave an opportunity to understand better its role and treat diseases caused by its action. In the 1960s, the research of British scientist James Black confi rmed Popielski’s model about the essential role of histamine infl uence in the secretion of digestive glands and became the basis for a new class of antisecretory drugs – H2 blockers. This work changed the strategy of treating peptic ulcer disease; consequently Black was awarded the Nobel Prize (1988). As such, there is no doubt that Popielski’s work represented the deepest intellectual rigor, setting the foundation for future generations to come. Prof. Popielski also continued the traditions of Lviv’s Pharmacology school, a professor and Chair of of Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy of Medical Faculty. Prof. Leon Popielski is a fi ne example of noble mindedness for future generations, and a person worthy of remembrance in the 21st century.

Keywords

• leon popielski, history of physiology, gastroenterology, histamine, digestive glands secretion, gastric acid, humoral control