Radiobiology at the forefront: Hanns Langendorff and two of his disciples

Hanns Langendorff (1902-1974) was an eminent radiobiologist and a visionary, who not only helped found the field, but also made significant scientific contributions. He was a member of the first editorial board of IJRB and actually published a paper in its first issue about the radio-protector 5-hydroxytryptamine. Langendorff started working in the field of radiobiology in 1929 and became director of the 'Radiologisches Institut' of Freiburg University in 1936. His studies impressively show the development of radiobiology over decades in areas such as radiation-induced cell death at various stages of development, as well as radiosensitivity of sea urchin, yeast and mammals. Using mice, Langendorff made many early discoveries about spermatogenesis, hematopoiesis, prenatal development, chromosomal damage and metabolic pathways after exposures to X-rays and neutrons. He also investigated aspects of target theory and dosimetry and developed personal dosimeters using films. After the atomic bomb catastrophes in Japan, Langendorff and his collaborators soon began research in mice related to acute radiation sickness and stimulated the development of radioprotectors by studying their mechanisms of action associated with cell death, as well as cellular and metabolic changes involved. Langendorff also trained a cadre of young scientists who advanced the field and brought it to its golden age in the seventies and the eighties. Research activities of two of his disciples are reviewed: Ulrich Hagen and the author. Both made significant contributions: Hagen mainly studying DNA-damage and repair in vitro as well in cells and the author investigating metabolic processes, cellular and chromosomal damage, prenatal effects, genomic instability, individual radio-sensitivity and their connections to cancer therapy.