Deceased Academicians
Date of birth 28 July 1908
Place Valparaiso, Chile (America)
Nomination 02 December 1975
Field Biology (Physiology)
Title Professor Emeritus at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Presidente y Fundador, Fundación Chilena de Hipertensión Arterial ‘Dr. Héctor Croxatto Rezzio’
Place and date of death Santiago, Chile † 28 September 2010
Most important awards, prizes and academies
Awards: National Award of Science, Educational Board of the Chilean Government, Chile (1979); Bernardo Houssay Award, Organization of American States (1981); J. Gomez-Millas medal in recognition of his activities as a Scientist-Humanist (1994). Academies: Academia Chilena de las Ciencias; Academia Chilena de Medicina; Academy of History; Pontifical Academy of Sciences; Sociedad Médica de Santiago, Sociedad Chilena de Medicina Interna. Since 1990 President of the Academia Ciencias LatinoAmericanas, succeeding the illustrious Professor Carlos Chagas. Honours: Doctor Scientiae et Honoris Causa, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (1983); Hijo Ilustre de la Ciudad de Temuco (1989); Reconocimiento Ciencia y Sociedad, de la Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Conicyt (2001); Grado de Doctor Honoris Causa, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (2002).
Summary of scientific research
Since 1938 most of the research work of H.R. Croxatto was devoted to the biological actions of vasoactive peptides, particularly in the realm of circulatory homeostasis. One of the first discoveries showed that the proteolytic hydrolysis (with pepsin) of plasma proteins (globulins) gives rise to potent peptides acting upon smooth muscles (vessels, uterus) and kidney functions. These findings provided strong support to the concept that still unknown peptidic molecules could have a broad and fundamental role in biological regulations. In the decade 1940-50, several peptide fractions released under the action of pepsin upon blood proteins were identified: pepsitensin, pepsitocin, pepsanurin and later anephrotensin. Among these peptides, pepsitensin and pepsitocin were of particular interest because, according to studies done in other laboratories, they were identical to angiotensin I (which is the precursor of angiotensin II, the most potent vasoconstrictor substance) and a precursor of bradykinin (one of the most potent vasodilator substances in vertebrates) respectively. Angiotensin and bradykinin have an important role in blood pressure regulation. In his final years Dr. H.R. Croxatto was engaged in the study of the renal kallikrein-kinin system, which appears to be involved in the mechanism of arterial hypertension. In 1970, he discovered that the urine of hypertensive rats has significantly lower amounts of kallikrein than the urine of normotensive rats. This finding opened up a wide field of research in order to elucidate the role of this system in the mechanism of blood pressure regulation in animals and human beings.
Main publications
Croxatto, H.R., Huidobro, F., Croxatto, R. et Salvestrini, H., ‘Action cholinestérasique du sang veineux pendant l’excitation musculaire directe et indirecte’, Compt. Rend. Seanc. Soc. Biol. Paris, 130, p. 326 (1939); Croxatto, H.R. and Croxatto, R., ‘Pepsitensin – A hypertensin-like substance produced by peptidic digestion of proteins’, Science, 95, p. 101 (1942); Croxatto, H.R., Rojas, G. and Barnafi, L., ‘The liberation of antidi- uretic factor by the hypertensinogen pepsin reaction’, Acta Physiol. Latinoamer., 2, p. 178 (1951); Croxatto, H.R., Pereda, T. and Mellada, R., ‘Peptides with oxytocin and pressor activity obtained from acidified rat serum’, Nature, 184, p. 1496 (1959); Croxatto, H.R. and Barnafi, L., ‘Hormone and hormone-like activity of active polypeptides’, Rec. Prog. Horm. Res., 16, p. 236 (1961); Croxatto, H.R. and Belmar, J., ‘Hypertensive effects of bradykinin in rats’, Nature, 192 (4805), p. 879 (1961); Croxatto, H.R., Pereda, T., Belmar, J. and Labarca, E., ‘Polypeptides formed by acidification of blood serum’, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 104, p. 146 (1963); Croxatto, H.R. and San Martin, M., ‘Kallikrein-like activity in the urine of renal hypertensive rats’, Experientia, 26, p. 1216 (1970); Roblero, J., Croxatto, H.R., García, R. and Corthorn, J., ‘Kininogenase in urine produced by isolated perfused Rat Kidneys’, Experientia, 30 (7), p. 771 (1974); Porcelli, G., Marini-Bettòlo, G.B., Croxatto, H.R. and Di Iorio, M., ‘Purification and chemical studies on rabbit urinary kallikrein’, Italian J. Biochem., 23 (3), p. 154 (1974); Porcelli, G., Bianchi, G. and Croxatto, H.R., ‘Altered urinary kallikrein in spontaneously hypertensive rats, selectively bred’, Life Sci., 16 (5), p. 818 (1974); Croxatto, H.R., Albertini, R., Arriagada, R., Roblero, J., Rojas, M. and Rosas, R., ‘Renal urinary kellikrein in normotensive and hypertensive rats under enhanced urinary excretion of water electrolytes’, Clin. Sci. Mol. Med., 51, p. 3259 (1976); Roblero, J.S., Croxatto, H.R. and Albertini, R.B., ‘Release of renal kellikrein to the perfusate by isolated rat kidney’, Experientia, 32, p. 1440 (1976); Croxatto, H.R., Silva, G. and Boric, P.M., ‘Inhibition of kallikrein excretion by renin purified extracts’, Clin. Sci. and Mol. Med., 57, pp. 243-5 (1979); Rosar, R., Albertini, R. and Croxatto, H.R., ‘Arterial pressure, plasma volume and the renal Kallikrein System in rats’, Hypertension, pp. 13-20 (H. Villareal, ed.), published by J. Wiley and Sons, Inc., copyright (1981); Croxatto, H.R., ‘Changes in renal kallikrein activity during pregnancy in rats’, Arch. Biol. Med. Exp., 15, pp. 305-8 (1982); Croxatto, H.R., Rosas and Gengler, J., ‘Potentiating effect of Aldosterone in the diuretic action of atrial extract’, Exp., 43, pp. 604-66 (1987); Croxatto, H.R., ‘Blood plasma proteins as substrates for the formation of Peptide Hormones’, in International Symposium on Biologically Active Proteins and Peptides (S.H. Chiou, K.T. Wang and Sh. Wu, eds.), pp. 23-7 (1988); Boric, P.M., Croxatto, H.R., Albertini, R. and Roblero, S.J., ‘Inhibition of Atrial Natriretic Peptide-Induced Natriuresis by Plasma Hydrolysates Containing Pepsanurin’, Hypertension, pp. 243-50 (1992); Croxatto, H.R., Boric, P.M., Roblero, S.J. and Albertini, R., ‘Blunting effect of Pepsanurin Introduced in the Duodenum on ANP Diuretic Action in Rats’, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 202, pp. 321-76 (1993); Croxatto, H.R., Silva, R., Figueroa, X., Albertini, R., Roblero, J. and Boric, M., ‘A Peptide Released by Pepsin from Kininogen Domain 1 is a Potent Blocker of ANP Mediated Diuresis Natriuresis in the rat’, Hypertension, 30, pp. 897-904 (1997); Croxatto, H.R., Figueroa, X., Roblero, J., Albertini, R., Ross and Boric, M., ‘A fragment of human kininogen containing Bradykinin blunts the Diuretic Effect of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide’, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., pp. 212-34 (1996); Croxatto, H.R., Figueroa, X., Roblero, J., Boric, M., ‘Kinin B2 receptors mediate of ANP Natriuresis Induced by Glucose or feeding in fasted rats’, Hypertension, accepted for publication (1999).
This morning we commemorate one of the most notable men that Latin American science has produced. Loved by all those who had the privilege to know him and held in esteem by both his colleagues and friends, Héctor Croxatto has left in his legacy an inerasable imprint that is becoming of a man of such exceptional qualities. From the beginning, his scientific vocation was strongly influenced by Dr. Eduardo Cruz Coke, who was also a distinguished member of this Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 1948 up until his death in 1974. Hector Croxatto was incorporated as a Professor of Physiology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in 1934, the institution in which he remained for the duration of his life. These were times when science in Chile was in its infancy. Hundreds of young medics, biologists and biology professors had the honor to pass through his laboratory, being marked by the wisdom and simplicity of their teacher. The scientific production of Prof. Croxatto, notable as much by its abundance as by its high quality, courted numerous and merited recognitions. These gave justice to a life of effort and dedication, and served as inspiration to a generation that could now look upon science in Chile as a genuine option for their future. The multifaceted personality of Prof. Croxatto drove his participation in diverse initiatives that would have a positive impact on both the scientific community and society as a whole. He was cofounder of the Latin American Academy of Sciences and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Dr Croxatto was also Director of the Center of Improvement of the Ministry of Education in Chile and founder of the Chilean Society of Hypertension. However, beyond a life full of achievements, there was without doubt another quality to admire about Prof Croxatto, namely, his profound human values. He permanently demonstrated a special preoccupation for those who worked in his laboratory, ensuring that their passage through his tutorship was an unforgettable period of scientific training and also of personal enrichment. His love for his pupils was always expressed through warmth and friendliness. Art, history, philosophy and science, were touched upon daily by a man who dazzled us all with his inner greatness, humble attitude and passion for knowledge. His enthusiasm with scientific discoveries was contagious. On numerous occasions we witnessed the astonishment that these caused him, as they allowed him to teach us the harmony of the forces operating in nature. Without a doubt, his amazement was fed by the special privilege that he possessed to see in nature the hand of God. Prof. Croxatto always gave testimony of a deep religious faith. His particular sensitivity in front of the wonders of creation delivered a transcendent perspective to his task as an investigator. His inner vigor was also fed by his love of art. A dedicated painter during his days of rest, he elaborated a deep comparative analysis of scientific endeavor and artistic creation, both in relation to the way they are generated and in the way they are appreciated by the observer. God granted to Prof. Croxatto a long life and gave him talents that he cultivated to become a great scientist, humanist and teacher. His life inspires us.
Rafael Vicuña