PHYSIOLOGY, CHEMISTKY AND PATHOLOGY 561 



antagonistic actions on the uterus. The inhibitory substance is soluble in 

 alcohol, while the augmentory principle is insoluble in alcohol, but soluble 

 in water. Corpus luteum extracts generally produce,, relaxation of the 

 muscular tissue of the intestine and of the bladder of the rat, but con- 

 traction of the whole intestinal tube of the rabbit and the kitten; al- 

 though, when isolated strips of either the longitudinal or circular intestinal 

 muscle of these animals were taken, they showed relaxation. The evidence 

 given by Itagaki for the existence of two opposing active principles is not 

 very conclusive. 



It has been urged that one of the substances manufactured by the 

 corpus luteum is cholesterin. Chauffard (a) (6) called attention to the 

 presence of this substance in the corpus luteum during pregnancy, and to a 

 /cholesterinemia occurring at this time. From these observations he came to 

 the conclusion that the yellow body is a center for the elaboration of 

 cholesterin. But Goiialons (a) has shown that the corpus luteum is not the 

 only center for the production of cholesterin. 



Extracts of the yellow body have been found to exert a powerfully 

 stimulating effect upon the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles. The 

 vas deferens of the rat is the most sensitive. Contractions occur with 

 extracts as dilute as 1 :2500. According to Macht and Matsumoto (a) (&), 

 the vas does not react to ovarian substance, if no corpus luteum is present. 

 Since the activity of extracts upon the vas runs parallel to that indicated 

 by other clinical and experimental tests, the tissue is recommended for 

 the physiological assaying of corpus luteum preparations. It does not 

 seem reasonable to rely upon what must be an accidental phenomenon as 

 a test for the specific activity of extracts of the corpus luteum. 



In 1910 the announcement was made by Ott and Scott that infundib- 

 ulin from the pituitary body and extracts of thymus gland, pineal gland, 

 and corpus luteum act as galactagogues. So far as infundibulin and 

 corpus luteum extracts are concerned, the results were confirmed by 

 Schafer and MacKenzie. An extension of this work was subsequently 

 published by MacKenzie. Extracts of the corpus luteum of non-lactating 

 sheep were used. The corpora lutea were separated from the rest of the 

 ovarian tissue (which itself was found inactive as a galactagogue) and 

 saline extracts were made from them. The dose generally used was the 

 extract of two corpora lutea in five cubic centimeters of Einger's solution. 

 The action on mammary secretion, after intravenous injection of the 

 extract, was found to be one of well marked stimulation, but much less 

 in degree than with pituitary extract. MacKenzie states that the galac- 

 tagogue action, unlike that caused by pituitary, is unaccompanied by any 

 change in the general arterial pressure. One of his tracings, however, 

 shows a preliminary rise of pressure, followed by a distinct fall, as is the 

 case with animal tissue extracts in general. Notwithstanding this, it is 



