Abstract
It all started in 1952 while I was a Research Associate in the Physiology Department of the School of Medicine at the University of Rochester. At that time, the adrenal cortex was known to be stimulated by many stress-producing conditions. Furthermore, the release of the adrenal cortical hormones was shown in stress situations, such as hypoxia, to aid the organism to resist the adverse effects of the stress. Previously, with Dr. Bernardo Houssay here in Buenos Aires, I had performed experiments with the adrenal gland and the hormones in the medulla, studying its effects on the plasma potassium concentration.
There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Gerschman, R. (1964). Biological effects of oxygen. In: Dickens, F., and Neil, E. (Eds.). Oxygen in the Animal Organism. New York: Pergamon Press, Macmillan Co., p. 475.
Gerschman, R., and Fenn, W. O. (1954). Ascorbic acid content of adrenal glands of rat in oxygen poisoning. Am. J. Physiol. 176: 6.
Gerschman, R, Gilbert, D. L., Nye, S. W., Dwyer, P., and Fenn, W. O. (1954). Oxygen poisoning and x-irradiation: A mechanism in common. Science 119: 623.
Gerschman, R, Diez, O., and Rojo, R. (1979). Protective effects of WR-2721 on survival time of mice exposed to high oxygen pressure. (Abst. A-31-4). Abst. 6th Int. Cong. Radiat. Res. Tokyo, p. 108.
Gilbert, D. L. (1972). Oxygen and life. Anesthesiology 37: 100.
Michaelis, L. (1940). Occurrence and significance of semiquinone radicals. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 40: 39.
Michaelis, L. (1946). Fundamentals of oxidation and respiration. Am. Sci. 34: 573.
Ozorio de Almeida, A. (1934). Recherches sur l’action toxique des hautes pressions d’oxygène. Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol. 116: 1225.
Paracelsus. (1967). Quotation from Time, March 9, 1959. In: Seldes, G. The Great Quotations. New York: Pocket Books, p. 733.
Stone, H. B. (1979). The role of oxygen in the radiation biology of tumors. In: Caughey, W. S. (Ed.). Biochemical and Clinical Aspects of Oxygen. New York: Academic Press, p. 811.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Gerschman, R. (1981). Historical Introduction to the “Free Radical Theory” of Oxygen Toxicity. In: Gilbert, D.L. (eds) Oxygen and Living Processes. Topics in Environmental Physiology and Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5890-2_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5890-2_2
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-5892-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5890-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive