The importance of the scientific school created on the basis of the Department of Histology of the Kazan State Medical University (on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the department)

Abstract

The paper gives a general description of the Kazan neurohistological school, formed on the basis of the Department of Histo­logy of the Imperial Kazan University. The creation of the school is inextricably linked with the name of Professor K.A. Arnstein and his direct students— A.S. Dogel and A.E. Smirnova. The classification of neurons of the autonomic nervous system created by A.S. Dogel is widely known. Due to the efforts of A.E. Smirnov scientific relationships were established with the school of S. Ramon-y-Cajal. Subsequent generations of Kazan histologists (D.A. Timofeev, A.N. Mislavsky, B.I. Lavrentyev) with their research in the field of morphology of the nervous system increased the glory of the Kazan neurohistological school. Its branches gave a powerful impetus to the development of neuromorphology in other domestic scientific laboratories (B.I. Lavrentiev, Moscow; A.S. Dogel, St.Petersburg; N.G. Kolosov, Volga region). Histologists also maintained constant contact with clinicians. Outstanding neurologists who worked in Kazan— V.M. Bekhterev and L.O. Darkshevich— in their research actively collaborated with employees of the Department of Histology— K.A. Arnstein and A.S. Dogel. In the early 20s of the 19th century, surgeon P.M. Krasin carried out detailed work on the degeneration and regeneration of peripheral nerves, ophthalmologist A.G. Agababov was the first to describe the endings of sensory nerves in the ciliary muscle. Conducting independent research, dentist I.M. Oksman and his students developed the theory of the innervation of the tooth and oral mucosa, making their contribution to the study of the organization of the nervous system. The last quarter of the 20th century was marked by the active work of Professor E.G. Ulumbekov, who managed to organize several schools of neurobiology in Kazan on the basis of the Department of Histology, bringing together young and famous scientists involved in research of nervous tissue. Students of E.G. Ulumbekov (Yu.A. Chelyshev, N.P. Rezvyakov, V.V. Valiullin, R.R. Islamov) continued the work of previous generations of histologists, preserving the traditions of the Kazan neurohistological school.