George Romhányi (1905–1991). Pioneer in amyloid research and polarization microscopy, on the 100th anniversary of his birth

Abstract

George Romhányi was an outstanding pathologist, university teacher and a renowned scientist of the 20th century. After studying medicine and pathology, his scientific interest focused on haemochromogenic reactions and submicroscopic structure research. He was among the first to describe the fibrillar-micellar structure of amyloid, as well as the helical-fibrillar structure of elastic fibres. Between 1951 and 1976 Romhányi held the chair of pathology at the University of Pécs.

During this time he published numerous topo-optical reactions leading to a renaissance of polarization microscopy. Romhányi's topo-optical reactions possess a high molecular specificity and enabled submicroscopic structural analysis. He and his disciples analysed the biomembrane, collagen fibres, the extracellular matrix of connective tissues, cell walls of bacteria and fungi, the ergastoplasmatic membrane, RNA and DNA. Romhányi's investigation of a range of amyloid depositions was a milestone and led to intensive immuno-biologic research in this area. He firmly held the opinion that polarization microscopy is, along with the electron and fluorescent microscopy, indispensable for solving fundamental questions of molecular biology.

Keywords:

• Polarization microscopy
• amyloid
• biography