Oskar Minkowski
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Oskar Minkowski
(born Jan. 13, 1858, Aleksotas, Russian Empiredied July 18, 1931, Frstenberg an der Havel, Ger.) German physiologist and pathologist. While researching diabetes mellitus in 1884, he found that beta-hydroxybutyric acid and a decrease in blood bicarbonate cause diabetic acidosis (low blood pH) and that diabetic coma is accompanied by decreased blood carbon dioxide and can be treated by alkali therapy. Experiments on dogs with Joseph von Mering (18491908) led Minkowski to propose that the pancreas is the source of an antidiabetic substance, now known to be insulin. He also demonstrated that the liver produces bile pigments and uric acid.
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Oskar Minkowski
| Oskar Minkowski | |
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| Born | January 13, 1858 Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Died | July 18, 1931 Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany |
| Institutions | University of Breslau |
| Known for | pancreas and diabetes |
| Influences | Josef von Mering |
Oskar Minkowski held a professor at at the University of Breslau and is most famous for his research on diabetes. He is the brother of the mathematician Hermann Minkowski and father of astrophysicist Rudolph Minkowski. Born into a family of Lithuanian Jews, he later converted to Christianity.[1]
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Discovery of the role of pancreas in diabetes
Minkowski worked with Josef von Mering on the study of diabetes at the University of Strasbourg. Their landmark study in 1889 in dogs induced diabetes by removing their pancreas. It was Minkowski who performed the operation and made the crucial link to recognize that the symptoms of the treated dogs were due to diabetes. Thus they were able to indicate that the pancreas contained regulators to control blood sugar; they also provided model for the study of diabetes. Their work led other doctors and scientists to pursue further research on the relation of the pancreas to diabetes, and ultimately resulted in the discovery of insulin as a treatment for the disease.
- Joseph von Mering, Oskar Minkowski: Diabetes mellitus nach Pankreasextirpation. Centralblatt für klinische Medicin, Leipzig, 1889, 10 (23): 393-394. Archiv für experimentelle Patholgie und Pharmakologie, Leipzig, 1890, 26: 37. It begins with, After removal of the pancreas dogs get diabetes. It starts sometime after the operation and will persist for weeks continuously until their death...
Minkowski Prize
In recognition of the discovery by Minkowski the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annually awards the Minkowski Prize for outstanding original work of a younger investigator in diabetes research.[2]
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