24th May, 2023 12:00
Fine Instruments of Science, Medicine and Books
Bayliss and Starling's Discovery of the First Hormone
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, From November 21 to February 27 1902 vol. LXIX bound volume,W. M. Bayliss and Ernest H. Starlings paper titled 'On the causation of the so-called 'peripheral reflex secretion' of the pancreas, [p.352 - p.353]
In 1902, William Bayliss and Ernest Starling published an article in the Proceedings of the Royal Society London titled "The Causation of the So-Called Peripheral Reflex Secretion of the Pancreas." This article marked a major milestone in the field of endocrinology, as it not only described the mechanism behind pancreatic secretion, but also introduced the concept of the hormone.
Prior to Bayliss and Starling's work, it was believed that the nervous system was solely responsible for controlling the secretion of pancreatic juice. However, Bayliss and Starling observed that when they stimulated the nerves of the pancreas, there was a delay before the juice was secreted. This delay led them to hypothesize that there was a chemical messenger involved in the process.
To test their hypothesis, Bayliss and Starling created a solution of pancreatic extract and injected it into a dog's bloodstream. They found that this caused the pancreas to secrete its juice, even though the nerves had not been stimulated. This led them to conclude that there was a chemical messenger in the blood that was responsible for triggering pancreatic secretion. They named this messenger secretin, making it the first hormone to be identified.
The discovery of secretin was groundbreaking, as it challenged the prevailing idea that the nervous system was solely responsible for regulating bodily functions. It also opened the door to further research into the endocrine system and the discovery of other hormones.
Bayliss and Starling's work not only had implications for the field of endocrinology, but also for medicine as a whole. Hormones have since been found to play a critical role in many bodily functions, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction. The discovery of hormones has led to the development of new treatments for hormonal imbalances and diseases such as diabetes and thyroid disorders.
In conclusion, Bayliss and Starling's announcement in the Proceedings of the Royal Society London in 1902 marked a major milestone in the field of endocrinology. Their discovery of secretin not only explained the mechanism behind pancreatic secretion but also introduced the concept of the hormone. Their work has had far-reaching implications for medicine and has led to significant advances in the treatment of hormonal imbalances and diseases.
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Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, From November 21 to February 27 1902 vol. LXIX bound volume,W. M. Bayliss and Ernest H. Starlings paper titled 'On the causation of the so-called 'peripheral reflex secretion' of the pancreas, [p.352 - p.353]
In 1902, William Bayliss and Ernest Starling published an article in the Proceedings of the Royal Society London titled "The Causation of the So-Called Peripheral Reflex Secretion of the Pancreas." This article marked a major milestone in the field of endocrinology, as it not only described the mechanism behind pancreatic secretion, but also introduced the concept of the hormone.
Prior to Bayliss and Starling's work, it was believed that the nervous system was solely responsible for controlling the secretion of pancreatic juice. However, Bayliss and Starling observed that when they stimulated the nerves of the pancreas, there was a delay before the juice was secreted. This delay led them to hypothesize that there was a chemical messenger involved in the process.
To test their hypothesis, Bayliss and Starling created a solution of pancreatic extract and injected it into a dog's bloodstream. They found that this caused the pancreas to secrete its juice, even though the nerves had not been stimulated. This led them to conclude that there was a chemical messenger in the blood that was responsible for triggering pancreatic secretion. They named this messenger secretin, making it the first hormone to be identified.
The discovery of secretin was groundbreaking, as it challenged the prevailing idea that the nervous system was solely responsible for regulating bodily functions. It also opened the door to further research into the endocrine system and the discovery of other hormones.
Bayliss and Starling's work not only had implications for the field of endocrinology, but also for medicine as a whole. Hormones have since been found to play a critical role in many bodily functions, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction. The discovery of hormones has led to the development of new treatments for hormonal imbalances and diseases such as diabetes and thyroid disorders.
In conclusion, Bayliss and Starling's announcement in the Proceedings of the Royal Society London in 1902 marked a major milestone in the field of endocrinology. Their discovery of secretin not only explained the mechanism behind pancreatic secretion but also introduced the concept of the hormone. Their work has had far-reaching implications for medicine and has led to significant advances in the treatment of hormonal imbalances and diseases.
