Guillemin, Roger Charles Louis

Guillemin, Roger Charles Louis (gēyəmăN`), 1924–, French-American physiologist, b. Dijon, France. Educated in France, he fought for the resistance during World War II. He taught primarily at Baylor Univ. (1953–70), until he became a researcher at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Calif.). Guillemin isolated and synthesized the hormones produced by the hypothalamus gland. These hormones regulate the pituitary gland, which governs other glands that regulate such body functions as reproduction and emotional responses. He also discovered endorphins, a class of hormonal substances. His work added new dimensions to the study of the brain's control over the body's chemistry. In 1977, Guillemin shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Andrew Schally and Rosalyn Yalow.