GONADS AND THE PITUITARY BODY 



cortical hormone has no effect on the gonads of hypophysec- 

 tomized rats. 



The repeated injection of a gonadotropic extract of the an- 

 terior lobe of the sheep has no significant effect on either the 

 basal metabolic rate or the respiratory quotient of rats (Lee 

 and Gagnon, 1930). 



Vitamin deficiency (vitamin E), manifested by changes in 

 the physiology of the sexual glands, may depend upon a 

 change in the secretion of gonadotropic hormone(s) (see Ver- 

 zar, 1 93 1; Verzar, v. Arvay, and v. Kokas, 1931; Evans and 

 Simpson, 1931; and Agnoli, 1932). In rats subsisting on a 

 diet deficient in vitamin B, anoestrus and loss of weight ap- 

 pear at about the same time. A comparable loss of weight due 

 to starvation is also accompanied by anoestrus. However, the 

 pituitary of the rat which has lost weight and is in anoestrus 

 because of a vitamin-B-deficient diet contains about the usual 

 amount of gonadotropic hormone (Marrian and Parkes, 

 1929). Manganese deficiency (Orent and McCollum, 1931) 

 and poisoning by sodium fluoride or thallium salts possibly 

 likewise affect the gonads indirectly by injuring the pars 

 glandularis. 



The metabolism of the gortadotropic hormone{s). — The pres- 

 ence of gonadotropic hormone(s) in the blood and their excre- 

 tion in the urine are discussed elsewhere in this chapter and 

 in the chapter following it. In human beings, at least, it ap- 

 pears that the urine contains the least amount of gonado- 

 tropic hormone during active sexual life. Probably the urine 

 of children contains greater amounts (concentration) than 

 that of normal adults. The greatest amounts are found after 

 gonadectomy in adults and, to a less extent, after the normal 

 menopause or after X-ray sterilization. ^^ 



Little is known about the behavior of gonadotropic hor- 

 mone secreted by the animal's own anterior lobe. The most 



5* Reference here is made only to gonadotropic hormone presumably secreted by 

 the pituitary and does not include the prolan group. 



[ 165 ] 



