PARS GLANDULARIS AND METABOLISM 



There appears to be little doubt that the ketogenic effect 

 of anterior pituitary extract, as determined by ketonuria in 

 the rat, is prevented by the removal of the adrenal glands 

 (Fry, 1937; Houssay and Rietti, 1937; MacKay and Barnes, 

 1937). The acetoacetic acid of blood was determined by 

 Houssay and Rietti, whereas the other investigators esti- 

 mated the acetone bodies of urine. Cortical tissue alone 

 seemed to be necessary for a ketogenic action, inasmuch as 

 the latter is not affected by demedullation (Fry). Houssay 

 and Rietti stated that the administration of adrenal cortical 

 extract restores the ketogenic action of anterior pituitary 

 extract in adrenalectomized rats, whereas this is not accom- 

 plished by means of salt therapy.^' 



According to Fry (1937), the ketogenic effects of anterior 

 pituitary extract can be observed in the rat even 7 weeks 

 after thyroidectomy. However, Best and Campbell (1936), 

 who performed their experiments in rabbits, found that as 

 hypothyroidism became more pronounced (e.g., 4-6 weeks 

 postoperatively) no ketogenic effect could be produced un- 

 less thyroid extract was administered. 



Anselmino and Hoffmann (1936) discuss the extraction of 

 ketogenic principle from the anterior pituitary and from 

 blood and urine. Its detection in the blood and urine of dia- 

 betic individuals has been reported (Anselmino and Hoff- 



3' Mirsky (1938) suggested that adrenalectomy in the rat does not affect keto- 

 genesis caused by anterior pituitary extract as measured by the acetone bodies of 

 the blood, but that the operation does raise the threshold of renal excretion of ace- 

 tone bodies. Thus, authors investigating only ketonuria would erroneously con- 

 clude that the operation prevented the ketogenic action of extract. However, Hous- 

 say and Rietti studied the acetoacetic acid of blood and found that adrenalectomy 

 largely prevented (or even reversed) the ketogenic effect of extract 6-14 days after 

 operation. Earlier than 6 days after adrenalectomy, when Mirsky made his ob- 

 servations (48 hours after operation), Houssay and Rietti found that the ketogenic 

 action of extract was unimpaired. If the method of estimating acetoacetic acid used 

 by Houssay and Rietti be considered accurate, their extract produced an adequate 

 ketosis, inasmuch as acetoacetic acid probably represents less than 20 per cent 

 of the total acetone bodies. 



Anselmino, Hoffmann, and Rhoden (1936) concluded that adrenal cortical ex- 

 tract fully antagonizes the ketogenic action of anterior pituitary extract. 



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