PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ANTERIOR 



HYPOPHYSIS IN RELATION TO 



REPRODUCTION 



Roy 0. Greep, Ph.D. 



PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE, BOSTON 



I. Introduction 241 



II. The Hypophyseal CioNADOxROPHiNS. . . 241 



A. Follicle stiiniilatiiig Hormone 242 



1. Ch(Mnic;il f(.;i lures 242 



2. Physiologic criccts in females 243 



3. Physiologic etfects in males 244 



4. FSH in relation to compensatory 



gonadal responses 244 



5. Assay 245 



B. Luteinizing Hormone (Interstitial 



Cell-stimulating Hormone) 245 



1. Chemical features 245 



2. Pln'siologic effects in females 246 



3. Physiologic action in males 246 



4. An extragonadal activity 247 



5. FSH and LH in relation to estrogen 



secretion 247 



6. FSH and LH, interactions 247 



7. Assay 248 



C. Luteotrophin (Prolactin) 249 



1. Chemical features 249 



2. Physiology of luteotrophic hor- 



mone (prolactin) 249 



3. Detection and assay of prolactin 



activity " 250 



III. Pituitary Gonadotrophic Hormone 

 Content and Related Evidence of 



Secretory Activity 250 



A. Phylogenetic Considerations 251 



1. Ascidians 251 



2. Fish 252 



3. Amphibians 252 



4. Reptiles 253 



5. Birds 253 



6. Mammals 254 



7. (Jeneral considerations 255 



li. Age, Sex, (Jonadectomy, and Repro- 

 ductive Rhythms in Relation to 

 Pituitary C.onadotrophins 256 



1. Fetal gonadotrophins 256 



2. Age and sex 256 



3. (Jonadectomy 258 



4. Reproductive rhythms 259 



C. Effect of Dietary Restrictions on Pi- 



tuitary Gonadotropliic Potency 

 and Function 261 



1. Underfeeding 261 



2. Vitamin deficiencies 262 



3. Deficiency in intake of protein or of 



specific amino acids 262 



IV. Gonadal-hypophyseal Interrelation- 

 ships 263 



A. Immaturity 263 



B. Puberty and Maturity 264 



C. Effects of Estrogens on Follicle-stimu- 



lating Hormone Secretion 265 



D. Effect of Estrogen on Luteinizing 



Hormone and Luteotrophin Hor- 

 mone Secretion 267 



E. Differential Effects of Gonadal 



Steroids on Follicle-stimulating 

 Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone 

 Secretion 268 



F. Effects of Androgens on Pituitary 



Gonadotrophins 268 



G. either Steroids and Oxidation Prod- 



ucts 271 



H. Effect of Progesterone on Pituitary 



Gonadotrophic Functions 271 



I. Neurohypophyseal Influences on 



Gonadotrophin Secretion 272 



V. Anatomic Features Important to 

 Modern Concepts of Pituitary 

 Gonadrotrophic Function 272 



A. Innervation of the Hypophysis . . 273 



B. The Median Eminence and the In- 



fundibular Stem 274 



C. The Hypophyseal Portal Circulatory 



System 275 



i). The Hypothalamic and Hypophyseal 



Mediated Sexual Functions 276 



1. Environmental stimuli 276 



2. Electrical stimulation of the hyi)o- 



thalamus 278 



3. Lesions in the hypothalamus 279 



4. Transection of the hypophyseal 



stalk 280 



VI. References 284 



240 



