Geoffrey Thorburn

He was the first to use the radioactive inert gas technique for the measurement of organ blood flow in the kidney, skin, myocardium and testes. This work became a Citation Classic. He originated chronic fetal catheterization for studying the fetus in utero allowing for the first time, assessment of the physiological, hormonal and biochemical status of the undisturbed fetus and growth-retarded fetus. Using innovative surgical techniques, he was the first to examine the control of the secretion of growth hormones in the ovine fetus, providing the framework of present knowledge on fetal endocrinology. He and his group documented the link between the development of the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis, maturation of fetal organ systems and initiation of labour. His work has led to a new, unified concept of parturition in mammals, where prostaglandins released from the placenta form the final common pathway.

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