Abstract
Information concerning the effects of anterior pituitary materials on the gonads of primates is very limited. E. Allen 1 and Hartman 2 have demonstrated the gonad stimulating effect of hypophyseal implants using dogs, monkeys, and pigs as donors, and Courrier, et al., 3 have shown that similar effects can be obtained with alkaline hypophyseal extracts. We wish to report the results of injecting aqueous pyridine extracts of anterior pituitary material in immature female Macacus rhesus monkeys. 21
Aqueous pyridine extracts as prepared by Fevold, et al. 4 were used. The preparations were injected subcutaneously in 0.5 cc. doses twice daily for periods of 14 to 16 days and each cc. of extract was equivalent to 1 gm. of dried pituitary powder. As small a dose as 8 gm. equivalent of pituitary was found to be sufficient in one animal. The first noticeable change observed was the appearance, in 2 to 3 days of injection period, of a purplish coloration in the skin of the peri-anal region and a reddening of the nipples of the mammae. The maximum coloration and peri-anal swelling was reached in about 8-12 days, the vaginal smear at this time showing predominantly cornified cells. When the injections are continued further the coloration decreases somewhat but the oedemmatous condition in the inguinal region and the posterior part of the thigh becomes progressively greater. No blood could be detected in the vagina although uterine bleeding (follicular menstruation) followed the cessation of injections.
The effects of the treatment on the internal sexual organs were very marked. The ovaries increased in weight as much as 1800%, the increase being due to development of a number of large follicles. Corpora lutea were entirely absent except in one doubtful case where there seemed to be slight luteinization.
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