METABOLISM AND THE PARS GLANDULARIS 



(1935) removed the pancreas and the adrenals from cats 

 which were given adrenal cortical hormone to replace the 

 extirpated adrenal cortex. As in hypophysectomized-pan- 

 createctomized cats, the diabetes was strikingly ameliorated 

 (there being a reduction in blood-sugar concentration, less 

 glycosuria, and a marked reduction in ketosis; the excretion 

 of nitrogen was also reduced). 



The effects of extracts of the pars glandularis on the metabo- 

 lism of carbohydrates. — Borchardt (1908) was impressed by 

 the frequent occurrence of glycosuria in patients suffering 

 from acromegaly (60 of 156 cases). Therefore, he investi- 

 gated the effect of a pituitary extract on the excretion of 

 sugar by the rabbit and dog. He concluded that he could 

 regularly produce glycosuria (as well as hyperglycemia) in 

 rabbits but that the effects were uncertain in dogs. Llnfor- 

 tunately it appears that he used an extract of the pars neu- 

 ralis which is now known also to have an effect on the carbo- 

 hydrate metabolism. Keeton and Becht (191 5) concluded 

 that in the dog the stimulation of the pituitary body (tetan- 

 izing current for 20-30 minutes) caused an increase in the 

 concentration of sugar-like substances in the blood, but that 

 this effect could be prevented by bilateral splanchnotomy. 

 Because of the difficulty they experienced in attempting to 

 produce a pronounced hypoglycemia by the injection of 

 insulin into decerebrate cats, Olmsted and Logan (1923) 

 made observations in cats after both decerebration and 

 hypophysectomy. In the latter case the concentration of 

 blood sugar tended to fall spontaneously; typical insulin- 

 convulsions could be readily produced.'^ Whether or not the 

 adrenals were intact made little difference. In 1927, Johns, 

 O'Mulvenny, Potts, and Laughton produced hyperglycemia, 

 glycosuria, and polyuria in dogs by injecting extracts of the 

 pars glandularis of the ox. They concluded that these effects 



'J The effect of insulin could be antagonized to some extent by the intravenous 

 injection of an extract of the pars neuralis. 



[291 ] 



