Claude Bernard and his successors on curare: epistemological questions at stake].

Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire NPA, CNRS UMR 7102, case 14, 7 quai Saint Bernard, Université Denis Diderot, Laboratoire SPHERE, CNRS UMR 7219, 75005 Paris, France. Jean-Gael.Barabara@snv.jussieu.fr

Journal de la Société de biologie 2009

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Long lasting polemics about the mechanisms of the action of curare took place at the Société de Biologie over thirty years. After a period during which poisoning protocols were developed on various animal species, where Claude Bernard, Vulpian and their colleagues were involved, German electrophysiology combined its results with new histological data about motor end-plates, elaborating a theory in which young physiologists fought against Claude Bernard's views and finally managed to convince him. According to the new theory proposed by Vulpian, curare blocked transmission between end-plate and muscle. This first draft of the neurotransmission theory helps us to understand the rise of a novel physiology in the context of the school of Claude Bernard with a better integration of disciplines and a more prominent faith in reductionism and materialism.

Citation

Jean-Gaël Barbara. Claude Bernard and his successors on curare: epistemological questions at stake]. Journal de la Société de biologie. 2009;203(3):227-34