Growth hormone secretion by pituitary grafts under the median eminence or renal capsule.

Abstract

Hypophysectomized immature rats, both male and female, approximately 55 g in body weight, were transplanted with a single anterior pituitary from a litter mate donor underneath the renal capsule or under the median eminence. Body growth was closely observed for 15 weeks after the transplantation and the weights of endocrine and visceral organs were recorded. Hypophysectomized rats with an in situ pituitary graft showed pronounced growth although less than in normal rats. The growth of hypophysectomized rats with an ectopic pituitary graft was intermediatebetween that of hypophysectomized rats with an in situ pituitary graft and hypophysectomized rats. The body length of hypophysectomized female rats with an ectopic pituitary graft supplemented with thyroxine and male rats supplemented with thyroxine plus testosterone exceeded that of hypophysectomized rats with an in situ graft in the corresponding sexes. On the other hand,thyroxine supplement in hypophysectomized rats with an in situ pituitary graft did ...