Abstract
Summary
Implantation of acutely dispersed adenohypophysial cells into the lateral ventricles of hypophysectomized rats resulted in partial growth restoration for periods of one to three months. Weight gain by experimental animals was consistently 20%-60% greater than among hypophysectomized control rats; the response was related to the number of cells implanted. The weight gain reflected increases of both protein and fat in body composition. A significant increase in long bone lengths was also observed among rats bearing intraventricular cells. Intraventricular implantation of either heat-killed anterior pituitary cells or subcellular organelles, or implantation of pituitary cells into the peritoneal cavity or anterior chamber of the eye, did not promote significant growth in hypophysectomized recipients. The results suggest that transplanted growth hormonesecreting cells are provided with a suitable functional milieu by the cerebrospinal fluid of the hypophysectomized rat.
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