METABOLISM AND THE PARS GLANDULARIS 



(1932) and Johnston (1932), however, could detect no ab- 

 normaUty in the specific dynamic response to protein in 

 patients with disease of the pituitary (both hypo- and hyper- 

 function). In reports such as that of Kestner and others, the 

 administration of three tablets of "Praphyson" daily for 2 

 weeks was thought to have been followed by an increase in the 

 specific dynamic response. 



In the hypophysectomized dog the specific dynamic re- 

 sponse is not lost but, because of a lowered basal metabolic 

 rate, may be relatively increased (Gaebler, 1929; Artundo, 

 1 93 1; and Mazzocco, 1933; see also Knipping, 1923). Some 

 investigators have found that thyroidectomy lessens or pre- 

 vents the specific dynamic response to protein (dog and rat). 

 On the other hand, thyrotropic hormone is also said to lessen 

 the response in man and in the dog (Schittenhelm and Eisler, 

 1932; Feuling, 1933).^' The only experimental report indicat- 

 ing that the specific dynamic response is abolished by hypo- 

 physectomy is that of Foster and Smith (1926) who per- 

 formed their experiments in rats. They concluded that the 

 intraperitoneal injection of glycocoU produced a calorigenic 

 effect only if both the pars glandularis and the pars neuralis 

 were intact. 



OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 



Bromine in the pituitary. — The pituitary (particularly the 

 pars glandularis) of the normal individual is said to contain 

 a higher concentration of bromine than any other tissue 

 (5-30 mg. per cent). The belief that this finding has a bear- 

 ing on sleep or other forms of unconsciousness (e.g., narcosis) 

 lacks sufficient experimental support (see Uhlmann, 1931- 

 32; and Zondek and Bier, 1932). 



Miscellaneous interrelationships or effects. — Anatomical 

 studies of the pituitary of the rat and the pigeon, which had 



^^ Sylla (1934) concluded that the specific dynamic response was normal in 

 "thyrogenic obesity" in man and that it was low but could be raised by the injec- 

 tion of thyrotropic hormone in cases of "pituitary obesity." 



[299I 



