THE GONADOTROPIC HORMONES 



to Westman and Jacobsohn (1937), this occurs in female rats 

 as well as female rabbits; the eifects, after section of the 

 stalk, resemble those of hypophysectomy except that degen- 

 eration of the cells of the membrana granulosa does not ap- 

 pear. However, Brooks (1937-38), who used only female 

 rabbits, concluded that the severing of the stalk, although 

 preventing ovulation due to coitus and causing atrophy of 

 the pars neuralis, had no other effect including possible ac- 

 tions on growth, maintenance of the genital tract, ovaries, 

 thyroid, adrenal, etc. The ovaries contained ripe follicles 

 from which ovulation occurred after the injection of preg- 

 nancy-urine. Brooks emphasizes that operations on the stalk 

 may also seriously impair the vascular supply of the pituitary 

 body. According to Keller and Hamilton (1937), breeding, 

 pregnancy, parturition, and lactation can occur normally in 

 the dog after the hypophysial stalk has been severed. 



Vitamins and minerals in relation to the gonadotropic hor- 

 mones of the anterior pituitary. — It is natural that the vitamin 

 considered to be necessary for normal reproductive perform- 

 ance, vitamin E, should receive the most attention of those 

 interested in the possible effects of vitamin deficiency on the 

 pars glandularis. Extracts, such as wheat germ oil, contain- 

 ing a high concentration of vitamin E, possess no gonado- 

 tropic action (Verzar and others; Saphir, 1936). Marches! 

 (1935) stated that adult female rats on a diet deficient in 

 vitamin E and otherwise sterile became pregnant and deliv- 

 ered the young normally after a suitable course of treatment 

 either with anterior pituitary extract or prolan. The young 

 died shortly after birth. Diakov and Kfizenecky (1935), 

 however, believed that the vitamin is necessary for the suc- 

 cessful completion of pregnancy, although the administration 

 of either prolan or anterior pituitary extract might bring 

 about follicle growth and ovulation, and make possible fer- 

 tilization and implantation in female rats receiving no vita- 

 min E. The gonadotropic hormone(s) causing ovulation in 

 oestrus rabbits is reduced in amount in the pituitary of the 



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