Extirpation of Hypophysis 



275 



132 (2092) 



The effects of complete extirpation of the hypophysis in the dog 

 (Preliminary report). 



By CLARENCE G. BROWN. 



[From the Hull Physiological Laboratory, University of 

 Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.] 



A series of 66 dogs were operated through the oral route and 

 the hypophysis removed by cautery. Five of these animals 

 (Nos. 4, 30, 34, 35, 40) showed no clinical symptoms, and when 

 killed for examination 96, 95, 95, 146 days after operation, no 

 trace of hypophysis was found microscopically. One animal 

 (No. 38) died 15 days after operation. This dog showed the 

 symptoms of so-called cachexia hypophyseopriva. Autopsy 

 showed absence of hypophysis, a blackening of the region about 

 the infundibulum and a severe pneumonia. The pneumonia 

 was probably an aspiration type and was diagnosed as such two 

 days after the operation. Dog No. 52 remained alive for 259 

 days after hypophysectomy. This dog was adult at the time 

 of operation, weighing 18 K. After hypophysectomy the dog- 

 gained 7 K., became sluggish, and somewhat somnolent. There 

 was no demonstrable decrease in the size of the testes (weighed 

 31 g. at the time of death) and there was no microscopic trace 

 of the hypophysis at autopsy. 



Two dogs (Nos. 14 and 39) are still alive, two years and 

 nine months and one year and nine months after hypophysectomy 

 respectively. Dog 39 was adult at time of operation, weighing 

 5.8 K. After the operation this dog gained six kilos in weight, 

 became extremely sluggish and somnolent (sleeps practically 

 all the time), shows altered disposition (grouchy) and is de- 

 void of sex interest (tested with bitch in heat). There is no 

 gross decrease in the size of the testes as determined by ex- 

 ternal measurement. This animal showed polyuria and poly- 

 dypsia for some time following the operation. Dog 15, a fe- 

 male pup, weighed 3 K. at time of operation. After the opera- 

 tion the pup gained four kilos, while the control gained six kilos. 

 This hypophysectomized dog has an infantile appearance, is 

 rather fat, and shows practically no development of the mammary 



