Showing papers in "Endocrinology in 1940"
TL;DR: There is now no doubt that many adrenalectomized animals suffer such widespread disturbances intheir water and electrolyte balance that their ultimate death can hardly fail to be associated with them.
Abstract: DIRECT PARTICIPATION of the adrenal cortex in the hormonal control of carbohydrate metabolism has been the subject of vigorous debate for a number of years. The interest in this problem has centered not only on the interpretation of the alterations in carbohydrate metabolism that occur in adrenalectomiz;ed animals, but also on their relation to the function of the adrenal cortex. This problem would appear to be capable of a simple solution were it not for the fact that other changes follow adrenalectomy that at first sight appear to be of greater significance than the disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism that have been reported. There is now no doubt that many adrenalectomized animals suffer such widespread disturbances intheir water and electrolyte balance that their ultimate death can hardly fail to be associated with them.
480 citations
TL;DR: The patient’s birth was normal and his first teeth erupted at 5 months, and he did not sit alone until the 11th month, and there were no evidences of any endocrine disorder in either parent, and no consanguinity.
Abstract: THE PATIENT, D. R. W. (H.L.H. A. 8619), was referred to Dr. T. Campbell Goodwin, at the Harriet Lane Home by Dr. Robert R. Harriss, of Hollywood, Florida. On admission, October 11, 1938, the boy was 3 years and 7 month, old. The father, aged 34 years, was normal except for a cardiac ailment. The mother, aged 32 years, was well except for slight irregularity of her menses.There were no evidences of any endocrine disorder in either parent, and no consanguinity. Prior to the patient’s birth, the mother had given birth to a child described by Dr. Leigh F. Robinson, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as presenting the characteristic abnormalities of a female pseudohermaphrodite,2 who had died at the age of 5 weeks. During the period of gestation the mother had presented no abnormalities. The patient’s birth was normal. His first teeth erupted at 5 months. He did not sit alone until the 11th month.
162 citations
TL;DR: Urinary creatinine remained unaffected while creatine declined in the 2 experiments in which spontaneous creatinuria was sufficiently intense and sustained to permit satisfactory study.
Abstract: LAST YEAR, in conjunction with A. H. Bryan, we described our experiences with the metabolic effects of daily injections of testosterone propionate in 4 eunuchoids, one of whom had pituitary damage from a suprasellar cyst (1,2). There appeared a uniform decline in urinary nitrogen reflected in the urea fraction and unaccompanied by increase in the plasma protein, non-protein nitrogen, urea or hemoglobin concentrations in the blood; a decline in urinary sodium associated, except in one instance, with a somewhat smaller decline in urinary chloride; a slight decline in urinary potassium in 2 experiments, of which one was fragmentary; a reduction in urine volume and a gain in weight due chiefly to water held with the retained electrolytes and nitrogen. Urinary creatinine remained unaffected while creatine declined in the 2 experiments in which spontaneous creatinuria was sufficiently intense and sustained to permit satisfactory study.
124 citations
TL;DR: The growth curve of the thymus in normal animals or castrated, either before, during or after sexual maturity, is determined to indicate that the involution of theThymus is determined by the activity of the sexual organs.
Abstract: IN 1898 CALZOLARI (1) observed that the thymus of rabbits castrated before sexual maturity was larger than that of the controls. This was confirmed by numerous workers and interpreted as a delay in the physiological involution. Moreover, the inverse effect, i.e. atrophy of the thymus, was found to be produced by the injection of sex hormones or of gonadotropic substances. These facts, together with the hypertrophy caused by adult castration, would indicate that the involution of the thymus is determined by the activity of the sexual organs. An important point, the determination of the exact moment at which involution is initiated and also the prepuberal changes of the thymus in animals castrated before sexual maturity, has generally been disregarded. Our plan has been to determine the growth curve of the thymus in normal animals or castrated, either before, during or after sexual maturity.
97 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that within certain well-defined limitations of procedure the relief fromstrin therapy is not only dramatic and sure but associated with a consistent change in ovarian function.
Abstract: THE EXACT CAUSE of pain in most cases of so-called essential dysmenorrhea is II still far from clear. Estrin therapy has been widely used and satisfactory results in as high as 70% of the cases (1), have been recorded. The purpose of this paper is to report that within certain well-defined limitations of procedure the relief from such therapy is not only dramatic and sure but associated with a consistent change in ovarian function. The nature of this change was quite unexpected in view of certain facts from the literature pointing in another direction. Thus, Novak and Reynolds (2) ascribed the severe pelvic cramps of dysmenorrhea to a relative deficiency of progesterone, the hormone of the corpus luteum. In favor of such a thesis is the apparent function of the corpus luteum during pregnancy in certainanimals to protect the products of conception by rendering the uterus unresponsive to stimuli (3).
93 citations
TL;DR: The results of urinary bioassays in these men, as well as in a significant number of control subjects, provide a theoretical basis for a hormonal etiology of gynecomastia in chronic liver disease.
Abstract: SINCE June, 1938, we have studied 14 males hospitali2_d, primarily, for chronic liver disease. Gynecomastia in 8 and testicular atrophy in all of the cases prompted us to investigate the sex hormone metabolism in addition to the usual clinical studies in these men. We are reporting here the results of urinary bioassays in these, as well as in a significant number of control subjects, including one case of subacute liver cirrhosis. Detailed clinical and postmortem dataof patients who died of liver failure will be reported elsewhere. Our preliminary report (1) last year suggested that estrogen metabolism was im-paired in advanced cirrhosis of the liver. The present data supplement and confirm our previous findings and also provide a theoretical basis for a hormonal etiology of gynecomastia in chronic liver disease. Since Zondek (2) enunciated the theory that the liver inactivates sex hormones, ample experimental proof of such a mechanism has been brought forward by a num-ber of workers (3–7).
92 citations
TL;DR: In the rat an inhibitory level of luteal activity usually makes itself evident only after copulation or artificial stimulation of the cervix uteri, so that daily doses of 1.0 mg.
Abstract: IT is WELL RECOGNIZED that the hormone of the corpus luteum tends to inhibit ovulation when formed in large quantities or when experimentally introduced in sufficient amounts. In the rat an inhibitory level of luteal activity usually makes itself evident only after copulation or artificial stimulation of the cervix uteri. The corpora lutea of ovulation in the ordinary cycle are usually said to be of little functional significance in this respect. Certain authors (I, 2) have reported indefinite postponement of estrus in the adult rat during the daily administration of crystalline progesterone in quantities between 1.5 mg. and 4.0 mg. Daily doses of 1.0 mg. or less of the crystalline hormone apparently have little effect on the estrous rhythm (2), so that these amounts may be considered to be subinhibitory in the adult rat.
79 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that a male hormone may be present in sufficient amounts in both sexes during the breeding season to be responsible for these second ary sexual characters of the night heron and the starling.
Abstract: DURING A STUDY of the social behavior of the night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli (Gmelin), previously reported (i), it was discovered that both sexes of this species undergo a marked increase in the pigmentation of the lores, lower mandible and buccal cavity, also a conspicuous vascularisation of the legs, during the breeding season When both sexes of a species of birdundergo the same seasonal development of a secondary sexual character it has been assumed, as in the case of Larus ridibundus, that the male and female sex hormones were producing identical effects (2) The recent experiments of Witschi and Miller (3) on the starling, Sturnus vulgaris, however, indicate that a male hormone may be present in sufficient amounts in both sexes during the breeding season to be responsible for these second ary sexual characters This discovery raises the question as to why the females of those species, which owe their secondary sexual characters to malehormone, do not develop male behavior
67 citations
TL;DR: The supposition that a disorder of the pituitary gland might be the underlying cause for most if not all cases of diabetes mellitus is suggested and pathologic evidence is necessary in order to test this hypothesis.
Abstract: SINCE THE FIRST description of acromegaly by Pierre Marie, repeated clinical observations and a large series of experiments have demonstrated both that the pituitary gland possesses the power of influencing carbohydrate metabolism in the general sense and that in cases of hyperpituitarism, best illustrated by acromegaly, diabetes develops with unusual frequency. The demonstration that extracts of the anterior pituitary when given by injection in large amounts will produce diabetes in a dog has led to the supposition that a disorder of the pituitary gland might be the underlying cause for most if not all cases of diabetes mellitus. In order to test this hypothesis not only clinical but pathologic evidence would be necessary. It is well known that one may have a clinical syndrome without uniform and demonstrable structural changes. Such might be the case with the relation between the pituitary gland and diabetes.
63 citations
TL;DR: The presence of appreciable quantities of glycogen in the muscles of their hepatectomized dogs during profound hypoglycemia, led Mann and his coworkers to conclude that muscle glycogen is incapable of sufficiently rapid conversion to glucose to play a significant r6le in maintaining the blood sugar level.
Abstract: THE SECRETION of sugar into the blood by the liver of the fasting animal 11 was demonstrated by the brilliant pioneer work of Claude Bernard (i). The inadequate chemical and physiological methods available to him and his contemporaries initiated an involved controversy which ultimately partly obscured his original conceptions (2). It remained for F. C. Mann (3), who devised the first practical method for complete hepatectomy in mammals, to finally establish the liver as the prime factor for the maintenance of the normal blood sugar level. The presence of appreciable quantities of glycogen in the muscles of their hepatectomized dogs during profound hypoglycemia, ledMann and his coworkers (4) to conclude that muscle glycogen is incapable of sufficiently rapid conversion to glucose to play a significant r6le in maintaining the blood sugar level.
52 citations
TL;DR: It had not been recognized that in spite of the different end products of glycogen breakdown in liver and muscle the initial stages of glycogens degradation are the same in these two tissues and in other tissues as well.
Abstract: THE ENZYMES concerned with the breakdown and synthesis of glycogen in liver and muscle play a fundamental role in carbohydrate metabolism. The enzymatic breakdown leads to the formation of blood sugar in liver and of lactic acid in muscle. Various substances (insulin, epinephrin,ergotoxine, adrenccortical and anterior pituitary hormones and others) influence enzyme activity inthe cell. When one investigates changes in liver and muscle glycogen under various experimentalconditions, and there exists a very large literature on this subject, one is really measuring variations in the rate of activity of cellular enzymes. Yet, until recently, information regarding theenzymes which act on glycogen was very scanty. It had not been recognized that in spite of the different end products of glycogen breakdown in liver and muscle the initial stages of glycogen degradation are the same in these two tissues and in other tissues as well.
TL;DR: Endome-trial studies conclude that progesterone is inefficiently utilized in patients with func-tional irregularities of uterine bleeding and no evidence was encountered that crystallineprogesterone was metabolized into sodium pregnandiol glucuronidate.
Abstract: IN 1938 (1) a preliminary report was made on a study of the metabolism of in-II jected crystalline progesterone, which definitely established sodium pregnandiol glucuronidate as an end product in the metabolism of this compound in the hu-man organism. These experiments have been elaborated and are now being reported in detail. Since this work was published Stover and Pratt (2) reported failure to demon-strate any sodium pregnandiol glucuronidate in the urine of women following injec- tions of 15 and17.5 Rb. u. of progestin (Parke, Davis). Also Hamblen and coworkers (3, 4) reported that in their studies on progesterone utilization in patients with func-tional irregularities of uterine bleeding no evidence was encountered that crystallineprogesterone was metabolized into sodium pregnandiol glucuronidate. From endome-trial studies they also conclude that progesterone is inefficiently utilized in these cases. Recently
TL;DR: THE PREGNANDIOL COMPLEX has been recovered from the urines of males who had received sodium pregnandiol glucuronide by mouth and of those whoHad received progesterone instramuscularly and this study reports its recovery from the urine of a male who had been given intamuscular injections of desoxycorticosterone acetate.
Abstract: THE PREGNANDIOL COMPLEX has been recovered from the urines of males who had received sodium pregnandiol glucuronide by mouth (i) and of those who had received progesterone instramuscularly (2, 3). This study reports its recovery from the urine of a male who had been given intramuscular injections of desoxycorticosterone acetate.3 A healthy male, 39 years of age, (K. C. in Studies I and II, 1, 3) was given intramuscular injections of desoxycorticosterone acetate in oil as follows: Series I, 5 mg. daily for 5 days; Series II, 10 mg. daily for 5 days. All urine was collected in 24-hour samples, beginning at the time of the first injection and for the subsequent 10 days thereafter. These urines were quantitated by the method of Venning (4) for sodium pregnandiol glucuronide. The results of these studies are given in table 1.
TL;DR: It is indicated that liver tissue contains an enzyme system capable of destroying the biological activity of certain of the estrogens, and particularly the endometrium, which is possibly estradiol.
Abstract: THIS STUDY indicates that liver tissue contains an enzyme system capable of destroying the biological activity of certain of the estrogens. Most tissues, and. particularly the endometrium, are able to convert estrone into a more active estrogenic substance, which is possibly estradiol. The immature rat uterus assay method of Lauson, Heller, Golden and Sevringhaus (1) was used to distinguish between estradiol, estrone and estriol. Twenty times more estrone is needed to elicit the same uterine weight response as that produced by estradiol. This can be appreciated by comparing the curve of response to doses of estradiol [fig. 1 (1)] with that of estrone [fig. 2 (1)], noting that the response to 0.37 of estradiol is equal to that of 6.07 of estrone. In order to test the effect of rat and rabbit tissue slices upon estrogens, 5 cc. of a Ringer phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, containing 0.3γ/cc. of estrogen, was incubated with 250 mg. of tissue for one hour at 39°C. with continuous shaking. The incubated contents we...
TL;DR: The present communication considers the results of a series of experiments designed to throw some light on the function of the corpora lutea bodies in snakes to help clarify the structure and function of these bodies in reptiles.
Abstract: HERETOFORE, the structure and function of the corpora lutea bodies have been almost exclusively considered in mammals. Comparatively little attention has been given to other vertebrates. The structure and origin of the corpora lutea have been studied and investigated in such viviparous vertebrates as elasmobranchs and reptiles (1–7). However, little or no attention has been given to the physiology of the corpora lutea bodies in reptiles. The present communication considers the results of a series of experiments designed to throw some light on the function of the corpora lutea bodies in snakes. A portion of these experiments were performed at the Department of Experimental Biology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. A preliminary report of the results as obtained there was published in abstract form (8).
TL;DR: The ability of adrenalectomized animals (phlorrhizin or insulin treated) to form glucose following the administration of potentially glycogenic substances has been studied.
Abstract: THE ROLE of the adrenal cortex in promoting the formation of carbohydrate from protein sources has been demonstrated in experimental animals (1). Recently it has also been shown that adrenal cortical hormone therapy had a striking effect in regulating carbohydrate utilization as well as in facilitating gluconeogenesis in patients with Addison's disease (2). The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the increase in carbohydrate utilization and the decrease in gluconeogenesis which has been observed in adrenal cortical insufficiency. It appeared possible that an inability to form glucose from intermediate products of carbohydrate catabolism as well as from protein catabolism could account for many of the abnormalities. In the present report the ability of adrenalectomized animals (phlorrhizin or insulin treated) to form glucose following the administration of potentially glycogenic substances has been studied. The comparative effectiveness of treatment with several adrenal cor...
TL;DR: Two PHASES are distinguishable in the cyclic development of the uterine mucosa: a), the proliferative phase brought about by the ac-tivity of the follicular hormone (estrone) and b), the proges-tational phase brought by the activity of the corpusluteum hormone (progesterone).
Abstract: Two PHASES are distinguishable in the cyclic development of the uterine mucosa: a), the proliferative phase brought about by the ac-tivity of the follicular hormone (estrone) and b), the proges-tational phase brought about by the activity of the corpusluteum hormone (progesterone). In the second phase the progesterone effect becomes apparent by anatomical as well as functional transformation of the glands. The glands become dilated and coiled and in them two different products are elaborated, mucus and glycogen. Th purpose of this secretion has not yet been fully comprehended. Since the secretion takes place in the premenstrual phase it may be assumed that the two substances are necessaryfor the nidation and development of the young fertilized ovum. It is certainly not in allmammals that the young ferti-lised ovum needs these substances for its development, since glycogen production of any considerable degree in the progestational phase is encountered only in primates.
TL;DR: While the natural resistance of the suprarenalectomized animal is markedly depressed, the acquired resistance produced by a previous injection of antigen or by previous infection is unaffected and the depression in natural resistance following supraRenal insufficiency is probably dependent on loss of cortical function.
Abstract: IT is WELL ESTABLISHED that the suprarenal cortex plays a significant role in the mechanism of resistance to intoxications, bacterial and protozoan infections and to secondary shock.1 Removal of the suprarenal glands in rats is followed by a profound drop in the natural resistance to toxins, poisons, bacterial and protozoan infections and a disturbance in the capacity to form antibodies. The resistance to anaphylactic shock is decreased. While the natural resistance of the suprarenalectO′mized animal is markedly depressed, the acquired resistance produced by a previous injection of antigen or by previous infection is unaffected. The depression in natural resistance following suprarenal insufficiency is probably dependent on loss of cortical function since injections of the cortical hormone raise the resistance of suprarenalectomized animals to the normal level. It was hypothecated that the depression in natural resistance is dependent in part on a disturbance of general cellular metabolism, possibly of an...
TL;DR: The production of pseudopregnancy by the anesthetizing of the rat's nasal mucosa suggested the possibility of a nervous receptor factor in the naso-genital relationship.
Abstract: IN A STUDY of the mechanism of the naso-genital relationship, it was shown (1) that in a series of 127 rats treated intranasally with silver nitrate, 69 animals (54%) became pseudopregnant. In order to discover whether the silver nitrate was acting as an irritant or as a depressant, the experiment was repeated (2) using for intranasal treatment separate reagents which were known to be either irritating or depressing. Oleum sinapis (mustard oil) was used as the irritant; nupercaine, a local anesthetic, as the depressant. It was found that the irritant did not reproduce the results obtained with silver nitrate, whereas nupercaine was as effective as silver nitrate in eliciting pseudopregnancy (58 of 115 cases, 50%). The production of pseudopregnancy by the anesthetizing of the rat's nasal mucosa suggested the possibility of a nervous receptor factor in the naso-genital relationship. Therefore, in the present experiment, the condition of local anesthesia was partially reproduced by interrupting the non-olfac...
TL;DR: In this article, a 40% alcohol extract of acetone-dried sheep pituitaries was used as the starting material and the extract was precipitated with alcohol and dried with ab solute alcohol and ether.
Abstract: ARECENT PUBLICATION (i) from this laboratory described a chemical procedure to separate two gonadotropic fractions from sheep pituitary: the follicle L. stimulating hormone (FSH) andthe interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH). By modification of this method it has now been possible to secure the ICSH in a homogeneous state as judged by electrophoresis experiments. The biological properties of the preparation have been studied in detail and results appeared in Paper I(2).The method of purification and some of the physicochemical properties of the product are presented here. The method of purification is given below; all steps were carried out at 4 to 6°C. (a) The 40% alcohol extract (1) of acetone-dried sheep pituitaries was used as the starting material. The extract was precipitated with alcohol and dried with ab solute alcohol and ether.
TL;DR: The uterine cycle is the only one to reflect the fluctuations of gonad function and the cycle of gonadal function is also re fleeted in the metabolic rate and basal body temperatures, the changes in the breasts and in bioelectric potentials.
Abstract: THE MENSTRUAL FLOW is the most striking and obvious of the periodically recurring events during the child bearing years of a woman's life. Its occurrence -1L is the result of changes in the uterus, detailed descriptions of which may be found in the literature cited at the end of this paper (I). The flow itself marks the end of a cycle of changes in the uterus. The uterine cycle is not the only one to reflect the fluctuations of gonad function. The vaginal mucosa undergoes comparable cyclical changes which are readily amen able to study by the vaginal smear technic. The cycle of gonadal function is also re fleeted in the metabolic rate and basal body temperatures (a), the changes in the breasts (3, 4), in weight (5, 6, 7) and in bioelectric potentials (8, 9).
TL;DR: This work is concerned with an analysis of certain of the physiological and psychological factors which underlie the establishment and maintenance of this socialorder in flocks of White Leghorn hens.
Abstract: IT is NOW KNOWN that many different species of birds have a more or less definite intra-flock organisation. Apparently this is based on individual recognition and differential behavior. Detailed discussions of some of the problems involved may be found in the literature (1–9). At present we are concerned with an analysis of certain of the physiological and psychological factors which underlie the establishment and maintenance of this socialorder in flocks of White Leghorn hens. The program we are following was outlined by Allee (10); a preliminary report of the present work (11) and a detailed statement of the positive results produced by injections of testosterone propionate has already appeared (12). This last paper should be consulted for many details of procedure including housing and treatment of the birds and general methods of observation and experimentation.
TL;DR: It is now generally agreed that the pain of functional dysmenorrhea results from contractions of the uterus, and the similarity of the pain to abortion and labor pain suggests a common origin.
Abstract: FUNCTIONAL DYSMENORRHEA is not a serious disorder in the sense that cancer, M pneumonia or diabetes is. But it is so common and causes so much suffering JL and invalidism that it merits more scientific consideration than it has received in the past. What is the nature of this strange malady that incapacitates so many young women each month for several hours or days and then leaves most of them little the worse for all their suffering? Many theories have been proposed but com-paratively little is known. Significance of uterine contractility. Whatever the ultimate etiology may prove to be, it is now generally agreed that the pain of functional dysmenorrhea results from contractions of the uterus (1-6). The similarity of the pain to abortion and labor pain suggests a common origin. The introduction of a sound into the uterus at any time during the menstrual cycle frequently produces the characteristic pain and attendant symptoms.
TL;DR: This work endeavored to fractionate gonadotropic hormone from the inert material in mare serum using the method of purification proposed by Cartland and Nelson together with an isoelectric precipitation procedure of their own, and succeeded in preparing extracts testing 4000 to 7000 R.U. per mg.
Abstract: ALTHOUGH EVANS ET AL. (i) and Hellbaum (2) reported the separation of mare serum into follicle stimulating (FSH) and luteiriiziing (LH) fractions, critical confirmatory studies are still lacking. Our inability to confirm these findings (3) led us to adopt a new approach to the problem; that is, instead of attempting to fractionate two types of gonadotropic hormones we endeavored to fractionate gonadotropic hormone from the inert material in mare serum. Using the method of purification proposed by Cartland and Nelson (4) together with an isoelectric precipitation procedure of our own, we succeeded in preparing extracts testing 4000 to 7000 R.U. per mg. total solids (5). In the original serum there were approxi′mately 2 to 4 R.U. per mg. total solids (the serum assayed 200 to 400 R.U. per cc.) as compared to 7000 R.U. per mg. in the best purified material.
TL;DR: It is shown that from sheep hypophyses fractional extracts can be prepared which contain either the follicle stimulating or the luteinizing principle in high concentration, and the possibility should be considered that in some instances a single hormone may produce follicles stimulating as well as lute inizing effects.
Abstract: SHORTLY FOLLOWING their discovery of gonadotropic potencies of urines and of hypophyseal tissues Aschheim (1) and Zondek (2) postulated the existence of two separate hormones. One was assumed to cause follicular growth, the other ovulation and corpora lutea formation. Fevold, Hisaw and Leonard (3) and others have shown that from sheep hypophyses fractional extracts can be prepared which contain either the follicle stimulating or the luteinizing principle in high concentration. In rats the independent existence of the two principles has been demonstrated by biological experiments (4). On the other hand, efforts to obtain extracts from pregnant mare serum or from horse pituitaries which would contain only one or the other principle have, so far, been disappointing (5). The possibility should be considered that in some instances a single hormone may produce follicle stimulating as well as luteinizing effects, just as certain sex hormones have been shown to stimulate male as well as female reactions.
TL;DR: Fuhman maintained on valid evidence that the'estrin privea1 hypothesis of Allen and Corner was inadequate to explain the onset of bleeding and suggested that the withdrawal of estrone is responsible for menstruation.
Abstract: THE PERINEUM of the adult female chacma baboon has been shown to undergo rhythmical alterations in size during the menstrual cycle (1, 2, 3). These flue-tuations have been measured and recorded daily and correlated with the vaginal smear (4). Parkes and Zuckerman (5) were the first to show that the turgescence of the perineum in baboons is due to the presence of estrone. This has been confirmed by Gillman in both adult and prepubertal baboons (6, 7). The factors responsible for perineal deturgescence and menstruation are less definitely known.Allen (8, 9) and Corner (10) have suggested that the withdrawal of estrone is responsible for menstruation. This has been largely supported by Zucker-man (n). Fluhman (12,) maintained on valid evidence that the'estrin privea1 hypothesis of Allen and Corner was inadequate to explain the onset of bleeding.
TL;DR: Many investigators be-lieve that a specific anterior pituitary (adrenotropic) hormone normally supports cortical tissue and its functions, though Grollman, Fazekas, and others have questioned the existence of a specific adrenotropic hormone.
Abstract: IT is WELL KNOWN that the adrenal cortex shows enlargement and increased func-tion following various experimental procedures and treatments. It is also certain that marked cortical atrophy follows hypophysectomy. Many investigators be-lieve that a specific anterior pituitary (adrenotropic) hormone normally supports cortical tissue and its functions, though Grollman (i), Fazekas (a) and others have questioned the existence of a specific adrenotropic hormone. The first qualitative and quantitative studies in this field were largely based on histological changes in the adrenal cortex. An historical review of the earlier studies was made by Collip (3).Reiss (4) described a specific Sudanophobic zone which appears in adrenals of hypophysectomized rats and which disappears upon treatment with hypophyseal adrenotropic extracts. In 1937 Moon (5) described a methodof assay of adrenotropic hormone which utilizes increase of adrenal weight in ai-day rats.
TL;DR: The hormonal contents of over one hundred human hypophyses which were pre-served during autopsies performed within 24 hours after death were studied to study the comparative physiology of the pituitary of all vertebrate classes.
Abstract: THANKS TO THE COURTESY and cooperation of the Pathology Department of the II Medical School of our university2 we have been in a position to study the J.L. hormonal contents of over one hundred human hypophyses which were pre-served during autopsies performed within 24 hours after death. There exists a con-siderable literature reporting hormonal tests made with a small number of glands which were implanted whole or cut in pieces. A few investigators also prepared and injected extracts. Both methods are apt to give incomplete and irregular results due to imperfect resorption, accidental fractionation and loss or augmentation of gonadc tropic activity. In our work on the comparative physiology of the pituitary of all vertebrate classes (1) the adoption of a standard technic which would permit comparison of pituitary substances of dissimilar types and collected at different times was an mv portant prerequisite.
TL;DR: Although the significance of the pos-terior pituitary in carbohydrate metabolism is by no means certain, it is now sure that the anterior lobe is of great importance therein.
Abstract: OUR REALIZATION of the important function of the anterior pituitary gland in carbohydrate metabolism undoubtedly dates from the incep-tion of the fundamentally important researches of Houssay and his colleagues. Before Houssay’s work, clinical and experimental observations had suggested that the posterior lobe of the hypophysis was of more im-portance in carbohydrate metabolism than the anterior part of that gland, but the results of Houssay and his collaborators stressed the predominant role of the anterior lobe in this connection. Although the significance of the pos-terior pituitary in carbohydrate metabolism is by no means certain we are now sure that the anterior lobe is of great importance therein. The primary points established by Houssay and his colleagues were the follow-ing. (a) Removal of the pituitary increases the sensitivity to insulin of the normal animal (1) and diminishes the intensity of the diabetic condition of a depancreatized animal (2, 3).
TL;DR: Evidence has previously been presented indicating that cervical sympathectomy can slightly and temporarily decrease thyrotropic function, although the sympathetics are not necessary for continued normal thyroid function, and the r6le of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal pathways was studied in reference to the regulation of thyrotopic function.
Abstract: THIS PAPER reports part of a series of experiments designed to clarify the mechanisms regulating the secretion of thyrotropin. More specifically, it seeks to J L answer the question as to whether fluctuations in an animal's thyroxin level affect the secretion of thyrotropin by direct humoral access or through the mediation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system. When considering the regulation of thyrotropic function, at least three possible mechanisms must be taken into account. These possibilities are: (a) nervous influences through the cervical sympathetics; (b) impulses passing through the hypothalamo' hypophyseal stalk and (c)direct humoral influences. Evidence has previously been presented indicating that cervical sympathectomy can slightly and temporarily decrease thyrotropic function, although the sympathetics are not necessary for continued normal thyroid function (1). Subsequently the r6le of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal pathways was studied in reference to the regulation of thyrotropic function. ...