Hilda Margaret Bruce (5 April 1903 – 2 November 1974) was a British zoologist, best known for her discovery of the Bruce effect, a pheromonal behaviour observed in many rodent species.[1] Her work on the control of fertility earned her the Oliver Bird Medal.
From the early 1950s, Bruce turned her attentions towards sexual behaviour in rodents, particularly the Whitten effect.[3] In 1959, she published her discovery of what is now called the Bruce effect, the termination of pregnancy following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male.[5] Bruce retired from the NIMR in 1963, but continued part-time research, variously on nutrients, development and pheromones, at the Department of Investigative Medicine in Cambridge.[2] She continued work at the Department until 1973.[2] In her later years, Bruce largely used a wheelchair, having been afflicted with worsening rheumatoid arthritis since 1942.[2]
Throughout the 1950s, Bruce studied sexual behaviour in laboratory mice, with a particular interest in oestrus synchronisation.[2] In one experiment, she housed newly mated pregnant females with male mice that were not the father of the carried embryo. As a result, the rate of miscarriages increased, these females subsequently returning to oestrus and mating with the new male.[5] No increased rate of miscarriages occurred when pregnant mice were paired with juvenile or castrated mice.[6]
Her colleague Alan Parkes, who had recruited her to the NIMR in 1944,[3] helped her to pursue the initial findings that eventually lead to this discovery.[7]
The National Institute for Medical Researchedit
Following the isolation of pure vitamin D in 1931, Bruce worked in collaboration with Askew, Philpot and Webster in the Department of Biological Standards, determining the stability of the pure substance.[8] At this time, Bruce was also working with Dr Callow in the Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, determining the healing effect of vitamin D in rats with rickets.[9]
Bruce, H. M. (1934). "Interaction of vitamin D and dietary factors in the healing of rickets in rats". Biochemical Journal. 28 (2): 512–516. doi:10.1042/bj0280512. PMC1253223. PMID 16745413.
Bruce, H. M.; Hindle, E. (July 1934). "The Golden Hamster, Cricetus (Mesocricetus) auratus Waterhouse. Notes on its Breeding and Growth". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 104 (2): 361–366. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1934.tb07757.x.
Bruce, Hilda M. (1959). "An Exteroceptive Block to Pregnancy in the Mouse". Nature. 184 (4680): 105. doi:10.1038/184105a0. PMID 13805128.
Bruce, H. M. (1965). "Effect of Castration on the Reproductive Pheromones of Male Mice". Reproduction. 10: 141–3. CiteSeerX10.1.1.485.8060. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0100141. PMID 14337805.
Referencesedit
^Bracey, Ed (December 2011). "The sense of smell – A milestone to understanding the brain". Mill Hill Essays via NIMR History.
^ abcdefghParkes, Alan S. (1977). "H. M. Bruce 1903-1974". Reproduction. 49 (1): 1–4. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.04900NP-c. PMID 319228.
^ abcdeMRC National Institute for Medical Research (2014). A Century of Science and Health. MRC National Institute for Medical Research. p. 208.
^Hindle, H. M. Bruce and E. (2010). "The Golden Hamster, Cricetus (Mesocricetus) auratus Waterhouse. Notes on its Breeding and Growth". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 104 (2): 361–6. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1934.tb07757.x.
^ abBruce, Hilda M. (1959). "An Exteroceptive Block to Pregnancy in the Mouse". Nature. 184 (4680): 105. doi:10.1038/184105a0. PMID 13805128.
^Bruce, H. M. (1965). "Effect of Castration on the Reproductive Pheromones of Male Mice". Reproduction. 10: 141–3. CiteSeerX10.1.1.485.8060. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0100141. PMID 14337805.
^Polge, Christopher (2006). "Sir Alan Stirling Parkes 10 September 1900 – 17 July 1990". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 52: 263–283. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2006.0019. PMID 18543475.
^Report of the Medical Research Council for the Year 1932–1933. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1934. p. 65.
^Report of the Medical Research Council for the Year 1932–1933. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1934. p. 53.
April 12, 2024
hilda, margaret, bruce, april, 1903, november, 1974, british, zoologist, best, known, discovery, bruce, effect, pheromonal, behaviour, observed, many, rodent, species, work, control, fertility, earned, oliver, bird, medal, hilda, bruceborn, 1903, april, 1903di. Hilda Margaret Bruce 5 April 1903 2 November 1974 was a British zoologist best known for her discovery of the Bruce effect a pheromonal behaviour observed in many rodent species 1 Her work on the control of fertility earned her the Oliver Bird Medal Hilda BruceBorn 1903 04 05 5 April 1903Died11 February 1974 1974 02 11 aged 70 NationalityBritishAlma materKing s College for WomenKnown forDiscovering the Bruce effectScientific careerFieldsZoologistInstitutionsNational Institute for Medical ResearchPharmaceutical Society Contents 1 Biography 2 Bruce effect 3 The National Institute for Medical Research 4 Publications 5 ReferencesBiography editHilda Bruce was born on 5 April 1903 She was educated at St Leonards School 2 In 1923 she began her tertiary studies at King s College for Women where she received a BSc in Household and Social Science and another in Physiology 2 In 1928 Bruce joined the National Institute for Medical Research NIMR at Mount Vernon Hampstead 3 Her early research was dedicated towards the understanding of Vitamin D she also jointly published the first article describing the breeding characteristics of the golden hamster 4 In 1933 Bruce was employed by the Pharmaceutical Society where she continued her research on Vitamin D 3 2 In 1941 she was appointed to set up the Cod Liver Oil Poultry Standardisation Laboratory In 1944 she returned to the NIMR where she formulated specialised diets for laboratory animals 3 2 From the early 1950s Bruce turned her attentions towards sexual behaviour in rodents particularly the Whitten effect 3 In 1959 she published her discovery of what is now called the Bruce effect the termination of pregnancy following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male 5 Bruce retired from the NIMR in 1963 but continued part time research variously on nutrients development and pheromones at the Department of Investigative Medicine in Cambridge 2 She continued work at the Department until 1973 2 In her later years Bruce largely used a wheelchair having been afflicted with worsening rheumatoid arthritis since 1942 2 Bruce effect editMain article Bruce effect Throughout the 1950s Bruce studied sexual behaviour in laboratory mice with a particular interest in oestrus synchronisation 2 In one experiment she housed newly mated pregnant females with male mice that were not the father of the carried embryo As a result the rate of miscarriages increased these females subsequently returning to oestrus and mating with the new male 5 No increased rate of miscarriages occurred when pregnant mice were paired with juvenile or castrated mice 6 Her colleague Alan Parkes who had recruited her to the NIMR in 1944 3 helped her to pursue the initial findings that eventually lead to this discovery 7 The National Institute for Medical Research editFollowing the isolation of pure vitamin D in 1931 Bruce worked in collaboration with Askew Philpot and Webster in the Department of Biological Standards determining the stability of the pure substance 8 At this time Bruce was also working with Dr Callow in the Department of Physiology Pharmacology and Biochemistry determining the healing effect of vitamin D in rats with rickets 9 Publications editBourdillon R B Bruce H M 1 January 1932 The determination of vitamin D Biochemical Journal 26 2 506 521 doi 10 1042 bj0260506 PMC 1260932 PMID 16744851 Bruce H M 1934 Interaction of vitamin D and dietary factors in the healing of rickets in rats Biochemical Journal 28 2 512 516 doi 10 1042 bj0280512 PMC 1253223 PMID 16745413 Bruce H M Hindle E July 1934 The Golden Hamster Cricetus Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse Notes on its Breeding and Growth Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 104 2 361 366 doi 10 1111 j 1469 7998 1934 tb07757 x Bruce Hilda M 1959 An Exteroceptive Block to Pregnancy in the Mouse Nature 184 4680 105 doi 10 1038 184105a0 PMID 13805128 Bruce H M 1965 Effect of Castration on the Reproductive Pheromones of Male Mice Reproduction 10 141 3 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 485 8060 doi 10 1530 jrf 0 0100141 PMID 14337805 References edit Bracey Ed December 2011 The sense of smell A milestone to understanding the brain Mill Hill Essays via NIMR History a b c d e f g h Parkes Alan S 1977 H M Bruce 1903 1974 Reproduction 49 1 1 4 doi 10 1530 jrf 0 04900NP c PMID 319228 a b c d e MRC National Institute for Medical Research 2014 A Century of Science and Health MRC National Institute for Medical Research p 208 Hindle H M Bruce and E 2010 The Golden Hamster Cricetus Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse Notes on its Breeding and Growth Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 104 2 361 6 doi 10 1111 j 1469 7998 1934 tb07757 x a b Bruce Hilda M 1959 An Exteroceptive Block to Pregnancy in the Mouse Nature 184 4680 105 doi 10 1038 184105a0 PMID 13805128 Bruce H M 1965 Effect of Castration on the Reproductive Pheromones of Male Mice Reproduction 10 141 3 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 485 8060 doi 10 1530 jrf 0 0100141 PMID 14337805 Polge Christopher 2006 Sir Alan Stirling Parkes 10 September 1900 17 July 1990 Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 52 263 283 doi 10 1098 rsbm 2006 0019 PMID 18543475 Report of the Medical Research Council for the Year 1932 1933 London His Majesty s Stationery Office 1934 p 65 Report of the Medical Research Council for the Year 1932 1933 London His Majesty s Stationery Office 1934 p 53 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hilda Margaret Bruce amp oldid 1139764041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
