Influence of Corpus luteuni Exlnicts upon Plain Muscle 



15 



Below (8) states that a small dose of corpus luteum extract causes 

 a fall of blood-pressure, and a slow pulse with strong heart-beat, whereas 

 a larger dose causes a greater fall of blood-pressure, with acceleration of 

 pulse and a smaller amplitude of cardiac contraction. He found, on the 

 other hand, that extract of ovary without corpus luteum raises the blood- 

 pressure and accelerates the pulse. Biedl (9) was unable to confirm 

 these results. Schickele (10) described the juice obtained from corpus 

 luteum as causing a fall of blood-pressure, continuing for several 

 minutes (dog and rabbit) ; but he also found that the juice from other 

 glands (thyroid, thymus) causes a fall of blood-pressure. As Biedl 

 points out, it must therefore be doubted whether Schickele's results 

 are characteristic of corpus luteum. 



In my own experiments a dose of from 5 to 10 c.c. of a 5 per 

 cent, to 10 per cent, extract of corpus luteum was injected into the 

 jugular vein. This comparatively large dose produced only a slight fall 

 of blood-pressure — indeed in some cases it had no effect — nor was there 

 any change in the pulse rate. This has also been noted by Ott and 

 Scott (11). In some of my experiments the kidney volume was increased, 

 in others it was decreased. In many there was no change. There is there- 

 fore no specific action upon the kidney. The specific action upon the 

 mammary gland, which has been demonstrated by Ott and Scott (11) 

 and by Schafer and Mackenzie (12), is confirmed by my experiments. 

 The secretion of urine appears to be unaffected (see also Ott and 

 Scott (5)). 



