Rudolph A. von Kolliker. Portrait of Rudolph Albert von Kolliker (1817-1905), pioneering Swiss histologist and embryologist. Von Kolliker produced one of the earliest histology textbooks, Handbuch der Gewebelehre des Menschen (manual of Human Histology) in 1852. In 1848 von Kolliker was the first person to isolate smooth muscle. In 1849 he showed that elongated portions of cells (nerve fibres) connected them to nerves. Von Kolliker was a founder of cellular embryology, showing in 1861 the cellular nature of sperm and eggs. He also provided evidence that cells can only be formed by existing cells. His support of Darwin's evolution theory was important.