Bizzozero and the discovery of platelets.
Bizzozero was born in 1846 and graduated in medicine at the age of 20 years. After working in Pavia for some years he was appointed Professor of General Pathology in Turin. Here he collaborated with many famous scientists in Italy and abroad. His interest in hematopoietic cells culminated in a description of platelets and their essential involvement in the blood clotting mechanism in vivo. Before Bizzozero's work, the description of platelets had been unclear, and both red and white cells were thought to be required for formation of blood clots. Although Bizzozero's discovery was disputed vigorously for several years, he was finally vindicated in 1892, unfortunately 1 year after his death. Apart from his extensive work, he bequeathed to science the benefit of his logical descriptions and rigorous experimental approach.
Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Turin, Italy.
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Dianzani
D001792:Blood Platelets; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010336:Pathology / Q000266:history