The Pharmacology of Hypophyseal 



Extracts 



FREDERICK S. HAMMETT 



PHILADELPHIA 



Introduction 



A strict interpretation of the term pharmacology would limit this 

 discussion to a consideration of the action of hypophyseal extracts as 

 drugs. Such a limitation would, by its elimination of much allied biochem- 

 ical and physiological information, so narrow the conception of the nature 

 of the action of these extracts that only a meager understanding of the 

 phenomena concerned could be obtained. Consequently, as the occasion 

 arises, there will be introduced into the subject matter brief descriptions 

 of evidence obtained from the allied fields of the other medical sciences, 

 in order to throw as much light as possible on the problems and results 

 involved. 



No preliminary description of the anatomy, gross or microscopic; the 

 evolution or the development of the hypophysis is necessary, since these 

 phases have been thoroughly covered in the monographs by Gushing 

 (1912), Houssay (1918) and Bell(fc) (1919). For purposes of conven- 

 ience the order of presentation of the material will begin with the studies 

 made of the hypophysis as a whole. Attention will then be directed to 

 the anterior, intermediary and posterior portions respectively. 



Since later work has demonstrated that the reactions obtained by the 

 use of extracts of the hypophysis depend upon the source of the extract ; 

 that is to say whether the extract is made from the anterior or from 

 the posterior lobe substance, these earlier studies of the gland as a whole 

 have largely an historical interest. 



Chemical Composition of the Hypophysis 



As far as the chemical composition of the hypophysis is concerned 

 but little of pharmacological value is reported. Costelli (1914) made 

 an extensive study of the lipoid materials and Fenger (a) (b) (1915) of the 

 water, ash, phosphoric acid and ether-soluble substances of the gland. 



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