THE PITUITARY BODY 



The effects of a gonadotropic extract of the anterior pitui- 

 tary on the metabolism of the isolated ovary, uterus, and 

 testis removed at different intervals after the injection of the 

 extract, was studied by Reiss (1932) in immature mice and 

 rats. The effect on the testis was less pronounced, and ap- 

 peared later. In the isolated ovary, increased oxygen con- 

 sumption and increased glycolysis (both aerobic and anaero- 

 bic) were observed. Some of the changes, e.g., the increased 

 oxygen consumption, were at a maximum before morphologi- 

 cal changes were pronounced.''^ 



In the normal immature male rat either homo-implants or 

 extracts of the pituitary ordinarily have no effect on sperma- 

 togenesis, although testicular size may be increased and there 

 may be stimulation of the internal secretion of the testis with 

 or without a morphological change in the interstitial cells 

 (Smith and Engle, 1927; Moore and Price, 1931; Engle, 



1932). 



The physiology of the gonadotropic hormone(s) of the 

 pituitary in the guinea pig is peculiar in several respects. In 

 the first place, implants or extracts of the guinea-pig pitui- 

 tary are low in potency in comparison with those of the pitui- 

 tary of the mouse, rat, and rabbit. Second, the prominent 

 effect of implants of the guinea-pig pituitary in immature 

 mice and rats is either oestrus (vaginal canalization with or 

 without uterine hypertrophy) or oestrus and follicle growth. 

 Third, the response of the ovary of the immature guinea pig 

 is less easily ehcited and perhaps qualitatively different in 

 comparison with that of the immature mouse or rat. 



The effects of implants of the pituitary of the guinea pig 

 have been observed principally in immature mice, rats, and 

 guinea pigs. In immature mice and rats, the implants may 

 produce only the secretion of an increased amount of oestrin, 

 shown by the completion of vaginal canalization, by the des- 

 quamation of nucleated epithelial or cornified cells in the 



'* Also see Szarka, Meyer, and Evans (1933). 

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