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The sarcoplasmic reticulum: its discovery and rediscovery

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 4, pages 69–74 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

In 1902, Emilio Veratti made the most accurate description, by light microscopy, of a reticular structure in the sarcoplasm. However, this structure was almost lost to man's knowledge for more than 50 years and was rediscovered during the 1960s, following the introduction of electron microscopy. Since then, biochemistry, electron microscopy and electrophysiology have unravelled the crucial role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the control of muscle contraction.

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Figure 1: Santiago Ramón y Cajal in 1884.
Figure 2: Santiago Ramón y Cajal's drawings of the reticular structure in the limb muscle fibres of the scarab Ateuchus sacer.
Figure 3: Romeo Fusari circa 1900.
Figure 4: Drawings by Emilio Veratti.
Figure 5: Bennett's graphic interpretation of the experiments of Andrew F. Huxley and Robert E. Taylor (1, 2 and 4, 5) on the basis of Veratti's 1902 drawings (3 and 6).

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Acknowledgements

We apologize to those whose work could not be cited because of space restrictions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, 10 Piazza Botta, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Paolo Mazzarello, Alberto Calligaro & Vanio Vannini

  2. the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 207 Via Abbiategrasso, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Paolo Mazzarello

  3. the Museum for the History of the University of Pavia, University of Pavia, 65 Strada Nuova, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Alberto Calligaro

  4. the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena, 287 Via Campi, Modena, 41100, Italy

    Umberto Muscatello

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  1. Paolo Mazzarello
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  4. Umberto Muscatello
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Correspondence to Paolo Mazzarello.

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Mazzarello, P., Calligaro, A., Vannini, V. et al. The sarcoplasmic reticulum: its discovery and rediscovery. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4, 69–74 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm1003

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