HORMONES 



Still have the larger questions of hormone interaction. There 

 are complex balance sheets to be set up, monograms, and in- 

 dividual accountings. We must account for pathological and 

 personal variations in function and for declines in function at- 

 tributed to "normal" aging. If this seems a gigantic task, I 

 think its magnitude is exceeded by its fascination. 



In our discussion we have considered the hormones as 

 regulators of a great variety of vital processes. I should like to 

 emphasize that these processes may vary from intracellular 

 chemical reactions to complex behavior. Androgens affect 

 protein anabolism, but also the pecking order of cockerels. 

 Cortisone inhibits protein synthesis, induces euphoria, and is, 

 under certain circumstances, psychotogenic. Progesterone pre- 

 vents water intoxication and induces broodiness in hens. We 

 are concerned not only with intimate biochemical events but 

 also with the organism as a whole. In their practical applica- 

 tion, therefore, the hormones must be considered not only as the 

 agents of specific biochemical effects but also as governors of 

 behavior and perhaps even ideation. Hormonal treatment as 

 now practised for premenstrual tension and menopausal vaso- 

 motor symptoms is designed not only to enable women to func- 

 tion better but to feel and behave better. Perhaps this is just 

 another way of stating that hormones have considerable effects 

 on the central nervous system. 



If, then, we visualize the hormones as continuing to con- 

 tribute more and more to the metabolic efficiency of the or- 

 ganism in health and disease, to its adaptability to stress, to its 

 resistance to involution, to its emotional well-being, to its better 

 prenatal and postnatal development and growth, have we come 

 to the end of our prophecy? I suspect not. It may not be 

 entirely pertinent to a biochemical essay, but I cannot forbear 

 mentioning certain contributions to the livestock industry. 

 Hormonal caponization has become a standard practise in 

 poultry husbandry. I dare say that fairly simple hormone 

 treatments will shortly be used to improve the quality of beef, 

 pork, mutton. It is possible that control of the sex ratio in 



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