[Dyes, indispensable tools for the 19th century's biologic and therapeutic revolution].
Born from growing organic chemistry laboratories, dyes were extensively used par textile industry before to be applied in field of biology and therapeutics. Besides their interest for diagnostic techniques due to cell visualization (Virchow, Papanicolaou), dyes allowed scientists to propose scientific hypothesis founding, in conjunction with new microscopy tools, modern basis for biology : tissue constitution, cellular and sub cellular structure, s.o. One of the brightest illustrations of these progresses is the birth of neuronal theory which due to silver print of brain tissue allowed to see intimacy of cerebral structures et propose an operating scheme (Golgi, Cajal). Therapeutic progresses born from dyes chemistry are multiple. First concentrated on the research of antimalarial drugs (Ehrlich) following the use of methylene blue, then generally, anti-infectious drugs, they gave birth to various chimiotherapeutic families: antiseptics, antiparasitic drugs, antibacterial, among which one of the most spectacular illustrations remain sulphonamides preparation.
Chast
François
F
1 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75181 Paris cedex 04.
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000266:history; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000266:history; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000266:history; D009420:Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides