Abstract
Since the prepituitary maturity hormone has been shown to produce puberty, follicle ripening and corpus luteum formation 1 , 2 and since this hormone has been demonstrated in the blood serum and urine of pregnant women and female castrates, 2 , 3 , 4 it appeared logical to expect its presence in the blood of women during the menstrual cycle. Aschheim and Zondek 2 have determined 3 types of action exerted by the maturity factor, follicle ripening (A P R I), blood spots (A P R II) and corpus luteum formation (A P R III). They ascribe these results to 2 distinct hormones which they call Prolan A producing A P R I, and Prolan B causing A P R II and III, but have been unable to devise an exact method for separating these factors.
We have attempted to devise a method for demonstrating the presence of either or both Prolan A and B in the blood of nonpregnant women. A convenient material for control is supplied by the serum of pregnant women of which 0.2-0.5 cc. contains a M. U. or R. U. The untreated serum could therefore be used and equivalent amounts of the extracts of the same serum compared with this.
The following technique was employed: a. Blood serum obtained from women at various phases of the cycle, from 1 to 22 cc. in amount, was injected into immature mice and rats without conclusive results, b. The proteins of the blood serum were precipitated with acid alcohol (one part serum, 3 parts 95% alcohol). After dilution to 50% the supernatant was separated by centrifu-galization and concentrated to a volume of 6-8 cc. by means of an air current at room temperature.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.