Specificity in Action of Anterior Pituitary of Different Mammals, and Urine of Pregnant Women on Ovary and Thyroid.

Abstract

During the past 2 years we have compared the action of the anterior pituitary of various species of mammals as well as of the urine of pregnant women on ovary and thyroid gland of the immature guinea pig and have observed typical differences in their effects. These we shall very briefly summarize. 1. Various preparations of cattle anterior pituitary (anterior pituitary inoculated in substance, alkali and acid extracts, residue after preceding extraction), all have in common the production of a hypotypical condition of the ovarian follicles, largely, but perhaps not entirely, due to the increased basal metabolism caused by the hyperactivity of the thyroid which these substances induce. They also tend to produce pseudolutein bodies and interstitial gland. Ovulation does not occur except when, after a period of long-continued injections, the effect of the extracts on the thyroid gland has ceased. 2. Inoculation of anterior pituitary of mature male guinea pigs accelerates markedly maturation of follicles and may produce a relatively slight amount of interstitial gland and pseudolutein tissue. The administration of this anterior pituitary substance has in many cases been followed by premature ovulation. Acceleration of maturation of follicles and ovulation are therefore the most characteristic effects observed. Variation in the amount of the inoculated material may lead to variations in the intensity of the effects without causing thereby the relation between acceleration of maturation and production of interstitial gland and pseudolutein tissue to be greatly altered.