Raphaël Lépine
Encyclopedia
Raphaël Lépine was a French physiologist who was a native of Lyons
.
From 1860 he served as interne at the hôpitaux de Lyon, and later moved to Paris
, where from 1865 he worked as a hospital interne. In Paris he was a student of Jean-Martin Charcot
(1825-1893). Afterwards he continued his education at the Universities of Berlin (1867) and Leipzig
(1869). At Karl Ludwig's laboratory in Leipzig
he performed important research on the vasomotor
nerves of the tongue
.
In 1870 he obtained his doctorate in Paris with a dissertation titled De l'hémiplégie pneumonique. At Paris he subsequently became chef de clinique (1872), médecin des hôpitaux (1874) and agrégé at the Paris Faculty (1875). In 1877 he was appointed professor of the medical clinic in the newly established medical faculty in Lyons.
Raphaël Lépine is known for his studies in experimental medicine, particularly his research involving the pathophysiology
of diabetes, and his investigations of blood sugar
and glycogenesis
. He made important contributions in the study of internal secretions of the pancreas
, and did extensive research of glycosuria
. Among his written works were two influential works on diabetes called "Les complications du diabète et leur traitement" and "Le diabète non compliqué et son traitement".
He was the brother of Louis Lépine
, Prefect of Police for the Seine from 1893 to 1897 and again from 1899 to 1913.
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
.
From 1860 he served as interne at the hôpitaux de Lyon, and later moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where from 1865 he worked as a hospital interne. In Paris he was a student of Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot was a French neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology. He is known as "the founder of modern neurology" and is "associated with at least 15 medical eponyms", including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...
(1825-1893). Afterwards he continued his education at the Universities of Berlin (1867) and Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
(1869). At Karl Ludwig's laboratory in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
he performed important research on the vasomotor
Vasomotor
Vasomotor refers to actions upon a blood vessel which alter its diameter. More specifically, it can refer to vasodilator action and vasoconstrictor action....
nerves of the tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
.
In 1870 he obtained his doctorate in Paris with a dissertation titled De l'hémiplégie pneumonique. At Paris he subsequently became chef de clinique (1872), médecin des hôpitaux (1874) and agrégé at the Paris Faculty (1875). In 1877 he was appointed professor of the medical clinic in the newly established medical faculty in Lyons.
Raphaël Lépine is known for his studies in experimental medicine, particularly his research involving the pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome...
of diabetes, and his investigations of blood sugar
Blood sugar
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...
and glycogenesis
Glycogenesis
Glycogenesis is the process of glycogen synthesis, in which glucose molecules are added to chains of glycogen for storage. This process is activated during rest periods following the Cori cycle, in the liver, and also activated by insulin in response to high glucose levels, for example after a...
. He made important contributions in the study of internal secretions of the pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
, and did extensive research of glycosuria
Glycosuria
Glycosuria or glucosuria is the excretion of glucose into the urine. Ordinarily, urine contains no glucose because the kidneys are able to reclaim all of the filtered glucose back into the bloodstream. Glycosuria is nearly always caused by elevated blood glucose levels, most commonly due to...
. Among his written works were two influential works on diabetes called "Les complications du diabète et leur traitement" and "Le diabète non compliqué et son traitement".
He was the brother of Louis Lépine
Louis Lépine
Louis Jean-Baptiste Lépine was an eminent lawyer, politician and inventor who was Prefect of Police for Paris from 1893 to 1897 and again from 1899 to 1913. He earned the nickname of ‘’The Little Man with the Big Stick’’ for his skill in handling large Parisian crowds. He was responsible for the...
, Prefect of Police for the Seine from 1893 to 1897 and again from 1899 to 1913.