EXTRACTS OF THE PARS NEURALIS 



in turn may markedly reduce the efficiency of the heart. 

 Stimulation of peristaltic movements of the lower intestine 

 and colon is produced by the vasopressor hormone. Also, the 

 vasopressor hormone may cause an inhibition of movements 

 and a relaxation of the uterus in situ. Very large doses of 

 vasopressor hormone may cause anemia or lesions of the 

 gastrointestinal tract. These effects probably are not of phys- 

 iological interest. In the case of anemia, the change perhaps 

 is due to facilitation of hemolysis by water retention. Le- 

 sions, especially of the stomach, probably are the result of a 

 prolonged spasm of the organ's arterial supply. 



Posterior-lobe extract may affect carbohydrate metabolism 

 by (i) producing a moderate hyperglycemia, (2) antagoniz- 

 ing the hypoglycemic action of insulin, and (3) antagonizing 

 the hyperglycemic action of epinephrine. The explanation of 

 these phenomena cannot be satisfactorily given after a con- 

 sideration of the data which have been published. 



It is not yet possible to ascribe consistent effects on the 

 metabolism of lipoids or proteins to extracts of the pars 

 neuralis. 



273 



