Ullrich Georg Trendelenburg
Encyclopedia
Ullrich Georg Trendelenburg (31 December 1922 to 21 November 2006) was a German pharmacologist.
. His paternal grandfather, Friedrich Trendelenburg
(1844 to 1924) was the surgeon after whom Trendelenburg's sign
for hip abductor weakness and the Trendelenburg test
for varicose veins are named, whereas his father, Paul Trendelenburg (1884 to 1931), also was a pharmacologist. In the Institute of Pharmacology in Berlin led by his father, Ullrich got to know opponents of National Socialism such as Otto Krayer, Edith Bülbring
and Marthe Vogt
. In the Second World War, he volunteered for the Air force in order to escape the SS. After the war he studied medicine in Göttingen
and Uppsala
. From 1952 to 1956 he worked with Joshua Harold Burn (1892 to 1982)
in the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Oxford
as a British Council
Scholar and from 1957 to 1968 with Otto Krayer at the Department of Pharmacology of Harvard Medical School
. From 1968 to 1991 he held the chair of pharmacology at the University of Würzburg
. After his retirement he moved to Tübingen
where he lived until his death.
Trendelenburg’s main field of research was the pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system
. He discovered new receptors at autonomic ganglion cells. He clarified mechanisms of hypersensitivity and subsensitivity to drugs, and his review of this subject became a citation classic. He also clarified the mode of action of direct-acting and indirect-acting sympathomimetic drugs. He identified pathways of inactivation of catecholamines in which a membrane transport protein and an enzyme
are arranged in sequence. He termed such pathways "inactivating systems".
From 1975 to 1979 he was president of the German Pharmacological Society and from 1969 to 1991 editor — from 1977 to 1985 chief editor — of Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, the world's oldest still existing pharmacology journal.
Inspired by his friendship with persons such as Otto Krayer, he published biographies of pharmacologists who had been persecuted by National Socialism
Trendelenburg was honorary member of the Polish, Indian, Czechoslovakian, German and Venezuelan Pharmacological Societies and honorary doctor of the medical faculties
of five universities: Tampere
, Finland, Porto
, Portugal, Ohio State University
, Lublin
, Poland, and Prague
. The German Pharmacologiocal Society awarded hin the Oswald Schmiedeberg
medal, the highest scientific honor of the Society.
Biography
He was born in Gehlsdorf near RostockRostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
. His paternal grandfather, Friedrich Trendelenburg
Friedrich Trendelenburg
Friedrich Trendelenburg was a German surgeon. He was son of the philosopher Friedrich Adolf Trendelenburg, father of the pharmacologist Paul Trendelenburg and grandfather of the pharmacologist Ullrich Georg Trendelenburg.Trendelenburg was born in Berlin and studied medicine at the University of...
(1844 to 1924) was the surgeon after whom Trendelenburg's sign
Trendelenburg's sign
Trendelenburg's sign is found in people with weak or paralyzed abductor muscles of the hip, namely gluteus medius and minimus. It is named after the German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg....
for hip abductor weakness and the Trendelenburg test
Trendelenburg Test
The Trendelenburg Test or Brodie-Trendelenburg test determines the competency of the valves in the superficial and deep veins of the leg. With the patient in the supine position the leg is flexed at the hip and raised above heart level until the veins become empty...
for varicose veins are named, whereas his father, Paul Trendelenburg (1884 to 1931), also was a pharmacologist. In the Institute of Pharmacology in Berlin led by his father, Ullrich got to know opponents of National Socialism such as Otto Krayer, Edith Bülbring
Edith Bülbring
Edith Bülbring was Professor of Pharmacology, Oxford University, 1967–71, later Emeritus Professor.She was educated at the universities of Bonn, Munich and Freiburg, and became a hospital doctor...
and Marthe Vogt
Marthe Vogt
Marthe Louise Vogt was a German scientist who was referred to as one of the leading neuroscientists of the twentieth century...
. In the Second World War, he volunteered for the Air force in order to escape the SS. After the war he studied medicine in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. From 1952 to 1956 he worked with Joshua Harold Burn (1892 to 1982)
in the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as a British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
Scholar and from 1957 to 1968 with Otto Krayer at the Department of Pharmacology of Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. From 1968 to 1991 he held the chair of pharmacology at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. After his retirement he moved to Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
where he lived until his death.
Trendelenburg’s main field of research was the pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
. He discovered new receptors at autonomic ganglion cells. He clarified mechanisms of hypersensitivity and subsensitivity to drugs, and his review of this subject became a citation classic. He also clarified the mode of action of direct-acting and indirect-acting sympathomimetic drugs. He identified pathways of inactivation of catecholamines in which a membrane transport protein and an enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
are arranged in sequence. He termed such pathways "inactivating systems".
From 1975 to 1979 he was president of the German Pharmacological Society and from 1969 to 1991 editor — from 1977 to 1985 chief editor — of Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, the world's oldest still existing pharmacology journal.
Inspired by his friendship with persons such as Otto Krayer, he published biographies of pharmacologists who had been persecuted by National Socialism
Trendelenburg was honorary member of the Polish, Indian, Czechoslovakian, German and Venezuelan Pharmacological Societies and honorary doctor of the medical faculties
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
of five universities: Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
, Finland, Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, Poland, and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. The German Pharmacologiocal Society awarded hin the Oswald Schmiedeberg
Oswald Schmiedeberg
Oswald Schmiedeberg was a Baltic German pharmacologist.Schmiedeberg was born at Gut Laidsen in the Imperial Russian province of Courland. In 1866 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Dorpat with a thesis concerning the measurement of chloroform in blood. Afterwards he was an...
medal, the highest scientific honor of the Society.