Function of the Ovary: B. Fourth Paper: Advances Between 1911 and 1924

Abstract

Summary 1. The primary development of the female genital organs, which include the mammary gland, depends upon the action of the hormone elaborated by the growing follicle. 2. The corpus luteum hormone produces a periodic accentuation of this effect and prolongs the growth stimulus during the early part of pregnancy. 3. The placenta produces further development of the genital organs in pregnancy. 4. (a) The follicle hormone causes the “premenstrual” or “pregravid” uterine change. (b) If no pregnancy develops, as soon as the corpus luteum becomes functionless, the hypertrophic uterine mucosa, analogous to rapidly growing embryonal tissue when the nutrition becomes impaired, breaks down, is exfoliated and bleeding (menstruation) then results. 5. The periodicity of menstruation is due to the fact that after the follicle has ripened—causing the “pregravid” change—ovulation takes place, and the corpus luteum inhibits other follicles from developing until the yellow body grows inactive. 6. Ovulation in the human female has been observed as early as one day and as late as 13 days after the cessation of the menses. 7. No function appears connected with the female “interstitial gland.” 8. Sex is a quantitative phenomenon depending upon the character of the gonad and the amount of its hormone output. The male and female tubular systems (wolffian and mullerian) respectively react qualitatively and quantitatively to the male or female hormone. 9. The secondary sex characters may react to other glands of internal secretion in addition to the gonads. 10. Deficiencies in follicle secretion, possibly also in other endocrine; glands during the formative periods, produce “fetalism” and “infatalism.” When this deficiency first develops after puberty, hypofunction of the genital system results. 11. Excess follicle secretion produces “premature sex development” in infancy and hyperfunction of the genital sphere after puberty has been established. 12. Lipoid extracts of the follicle, corpus luteum and placenta produce marked hyperplasia of the uterus, vagina and breasts in experimental animals (rat, rabbit, guinea pig, cat, etc.). 13. The same dosage per kilo that produces a reaction in animals would necessitate the use of the extract of 2 kg. of ovary per day in the average woman 14. Therefore it is not surprising that our present methods o ovotherapy are ineffective and the results obtained are as yet unconvincing.