Hermann (Hugh) Blaschko was a biochemical pharmacologist best known for discovering how adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and dopamine were synthesized, stored, and metabolized in adrenomedullary cells and sympathetic nerves. Blaschko’s work not only supported the validity of the concept of neurochemical synaptic transmission but he also made fundamental contributions to the development of drugs used in clinical medicine to treat diseases such as depression, hypertension, and Parkinson's Disease.
A complete bibliography of Hugh Blaschko’s work (including abstracts) is provided in: Born GVR and Banks P. Hugh Blaschko. 4 January 1900–18 April 1993. Biogr Memoirs Fellows R Soc 1996; 42: 40–60. A personal account of Blaschko’s personal life and early career can be found in: Blaschko H. Memories of my early life. Reading: Armour Print & Design, 1997.
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Born GVR and Banks P. Hugh Blaschko 3 January 1900–18; April 1993. Biogr Memoirs Fellows R Soc 1996; 42: 44–45. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1996.0004.
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BlaschkoHKF. My path to pharmacology. Annuual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology1980; 20: 1–15.
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Blaschko H. Memories of my early life, 1997, pp.167–182.
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Medawar J and Pike D. Hitler's gift. New York: Arcade Publishing Inc., 2000, pp.55–59.
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Smith A. David. Obituary: Hugh Blaschko. FRS (1900–1993). British Journal of Pharmacology 1993; 110: 1275–1277.
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Blaschko H, Richter D and Schlossmann H. The inactivation of adrenaline. J Physiol 1937; 90: 1–17. See also Bhagvat K, Blaschko H and Richter D. Amine oxidase. Biochem J 1939: 33: 1338–1341.
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BlaschkoH. The activity of l-dopa-decarboxylase. J Physiol1942; 101: 337–349.
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A summary of the steps involved in catecholamine formation is provided in: Blaschko H. The development of current concepts of catecholamine formation. Pharmacological Reviews 1959: 11: 307–316.
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Blaschko H. Catecholamine biosynthesis. Br Med Bull 1973; 29: 105.
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Rubin RP. Joshua Harold Burn (1892–1981): a visionary during the evolution of pharmacology as a biomedical discipline. J Med Biogr. In press..
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Blaschko H. Memories of my early life, 1997: Appendix. Reading; Armour Print & Design; pp.195–198.
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BlaschkoHDuthieR. Substrate specificity of amine oxidases. Biochemical Journal1945; 39: 478–481.
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BlaschkoHWelchAD. Localization of adrenaline in cytoplasmic granules of the bovine adrenal medulla. Arch Exp Path Pharmak1953; 191: 17–22.
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DemisDJBlaschkoHWelchAD. The conversion of dihydrophenylalanine-2-C14 (dopa) to norepinephrine by bovine adrenal medullary homogenates. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics1956; 177: 209–212.
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BornGVRBanksP. Biogr Memoirs Fellows R Soc1996; 42: 50–50.
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BlaschkoHBornGVRD’IorioAD, et al.Observations of the distribution of catecholamines and adenosine triphosphate in the bovine adrenal medulla. Journal of Physiology1956; 133: 548–557.
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Born GVR and Banks P. Biogr Memoirs Fellows R SocBiographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 1996; 42: 59–60.
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Medawar J and Pyke D. Hitler’s gift. New York: Arcade Publishing Inc., 2000, pp.100–102. Axelrod J. Journey of a late blooming scientist. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2003; 278: 1–13.
