Scientific Contributions
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Germ Layers
Remak was not the first to study the concept of body layers in embryology. However, he did refine von Baer’s commonly-accepted theory of four body layers to include the three main layers recognized today (endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm). Remak also traced the embryonic development of a variety of organs and tissues in vertebrates (Grzybowski & Pietrzak 2012; Remak 1855).
Brain Development
Combining his studies of neurology and development, Remak discovered that the cerebral cortex in mammals developed from six initial layers of neurons (Grzybowski and Pietrzak 2012). This knowledge provided the foundation for our current understanding of brain development.
Remak's Ganglion
In 1844, Remak observed and described a cluster of sympathetic nerve cells in the junction between the venous sinus and the heart's right atrium. This cluster is now known as ‘Remak’s ganglion’ and is recognized to help regulate heart rate (Grzybowski & Pietrzak 2012).
Neurohistology
In 1837, Remak showed that neurons were not tubular, as was commonly thought at the time, but contained thin, parallel fibres (Remak 1837). He proposed that ganglia were ‘hubs’ for the transmission of information in the sympathetic nervous system and were interconnected by nerve fibers. However, many of his ideas were rejected by his lab supervisor and his colleagues (Kisch 1954).
Remak's Nerve
Robert Remak was the first to describe Remak’s nerve, part of the avian autonomic nervous system that helps to regulate gut motility (Remak 1847).
C-Fibers & Remak Bundles
Remak was the first to describe C-fibers and non-myelinating Schwann cells. One of the three main classes of nerve fibers, C-fibers are unmyelinated and carry sensory information to the central nervous system. They are bound together and insulated by non-myelinating Schwann cells to form ‘Remak’s bundles’ (Grzybowski and Pietrzak 2012; Remak 1838).
"It was through the cell-theory that Kolliker and Remak opened the way to an understanding of the nature of embryological development, and the law of genetic continuity lying at the basis of inheritance."
- Edmund Beecher Wilson
Remak's work in cell division revolutionized the understanding of cellular reproduction.
Remak's insights into cell replication and development have shaped our understanding of developmental biology, oncology, epidemiology and more.
Electrotherapy
From 1856 until the end of his life, Remak refined the field of electrotherapy using the knowledge of neurology and neuroanatomy that he gained in the first part of his career. He specifically focused on direct nerve stimulation techniques using galvanotherapy (Remak 1859). He reported great success from his clinical trials, and proposed galvanotherapy as a treatment for various neurological problems and as a measure to reverse muscle atrophy (Remak 1856). In modern medicine, neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) therapies follow the same principles as Remak’s electrotherapy. Variants of NMES are considered to be integral in treating neurodegenerative diseases, physical rehabilitation following injuries and strokes, and pain control (Marquez-Chin and Popovic 2020).
Dermatology
Robert Remak contributed to the study of fungal skin infections, particularly favus (scalp ringworm, or tinea capitis), the first known dermatophytosis. In 1837, he was the first to observe that favus was caused by fungi, identifying fungal spores and hyphae in microscopic studies of hair and tissue samples from infected patients (Grzybowski and Pietrzak 2013). Remak named the pathogen Achorion schönleinii, although it was later renamed Trichophyton schoenleinii. Remak also demonstrated the infectious nature of favus by injecting fungal material obtained from patients infected with the disease into his own arm in 1842, predating Koch’s postulates. His work laid the foundation for understanding fungal pathogens in dermatology (Grzybowski and Pietrzak 2013).
