622 CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY OF THE DUCTLESS GLANDS 



from epinephrine), but with a special potency in stimulating con- 

 tractions of the uterus; and hence it has a wide clinical use under 

 the name pituitrin. The chemical nature of pituitrin is not yet deter- 

 mined, but it seems to be closely related to (8-iminazolylethyla- 

 mine, the base derived from histidine,^° and which also stimulates 

 uterine contractions, but which differs in causing bronchial spasm 

 and urticarial reactions. Abel believes that histamine is the chief 

 constituent of pituitrin, presumably associated with a pressor base of 

 some sort. Hanke and Koessler,^°" however, seem to have demon- 

 strated the absence of significant quantities of histamine in fresh 

 hypophysis. Injection of the posterior lobe extract lowers the assimila- 

 tion Hmit for carbohydrates and causes glycogenolysis (Gushing), ^^ 

 and is a powerful galactagogue (Ott). 



Removal of the anterior lobe of the gland in young animals is fol- 

 lowed by marked metabolic and developmental changes, notable being 

 adiposity, nutritional changes in the skin and its appendages, sexual 

 inactivity and underdevelopment, subnormal body temperature and 

 increased carbohydrate tolerance. ^^ These manifestations correspond 

 to those observed in certain human conditions (Froehlich's syndrome) ^^ 

 associated with defects in the hypophysis. Removal of the posterior 

 lobe does not produce any characteristic and constant effects, although 

 marked polyuria and erotism have resulted. The anterior lobe fed to 

 young rats has a stimulating effect on growth, and especially on sexual 

 development and activity, while posterior lobe feeding has a retarding 

 influence (Goetsch^*). Robertson describes a modification of growth 

 in mice fed anterior lobe substance, which he attributes to a specific 

 substance, tethelin, containing phosphorus and probably an iminazolyl 

 group, and hence related to the active constituent of the posterior lobe, 

 although it has no pressor effect.^^ 



Puncture of the hypophysis produces the same effect as puncture 

 of Bernard's diabetic center in the fourth ventricle, ^^ and stimulation 

 of the gland has a similar effect, presumably because of the secretion 

 of a glycogenolytic agent. A diminution of posterior lobe secretion 

 occurring in certain conditions of hypopituitarism leads to an acquired 

 high tolerance for sugars, with the resultant accumulation of fat. In 

 hibernating animals, also, the adiposity and lowered temperature are 

 associated with hypoplasia of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis. 

 There also seems to be some relation between the hypophysis and 



90 See Abel and Kubota, Jour. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1919 (13), 243. 



"""Jour. Biol. Chem., 1920. 



" See also Bull. Johns Hopkins' Hosp., 1913 (24), 40. 



*^ Concerning metabolism after hypophysectomy see Benedict and Ilomans, 

 Jour. Med. Res., 1912 (25), 409. 



^^ Metabolism in Frcelich's syndrome has been studied by Rosenbloom (Intcr- 

 stateMcd. Jour., 1917 (24), 475) who found a slight loss of sulphur and phosphorus. 



"^ Johns Hopkins Hospital Bulletin, 191G (27), 29; Growth of tadpoles is also 

 stimulated (P. E. Smith, Univ. Calif. Publ. (Physiol.), 1918 (5), 11. 



^•^ Jour. Biol. Chem., 191G (24), 409. 



»» Amer. Jour. Physiol., 1913 (31), xiii. 



