Julius Axelrod Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1970
Co-Nobelists Sir Bernard Katz, Ulf von Euler

Pharmacologist. Neurophysiologist. Mechanism for storage, release, inactivation of humoral transmitters in nerve endings. Discovered drug metabolic pathways: hydroxylation, demethylation, deamination, conjugation. Led to liver's microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes discovery. Pheochromocytoma. Carboxylmethyl transferase. Melatonin.

Ideal mentor. Infectious exhilaration in discovery. Research was genuine fun. Students came out of lab with same attitude.

Health

Julius Axelrod worked at the New York City Department of Health's Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene from 1935 to 1946. He tested vitamin supplements added to food, especially milk. During this time a laboratory accident caused the loss of his left eye.