Effect of Antero-Pituitary Hormones upon Blood Sugar. ∗

Abstract

The reasons which prompted our investigation, and the discussion and possible conclusions, with further data, will be presented at another time. The observations were made on rabbits. The question of whether urinary Hebin (the Antero-Pituitary Sex Hormone obtained from the urine of pregnant women) is identical, derived from or similar to pituitary Hebin (the Antero-Pituitary Sex Hormone obtained from the anterior pituitary lobe), is aside from the purpose of this presentation, but because of the comparative ease with which the former is obtained (as compared to pituitary Hebin) it was used in our work—made from pregnancy urine according to a modification of the Aschheim-Zondek method. Our Growth Hormone was prepared from bovine pituitary by a modification of the Van Dyke method. It was shown to have little luteinizing effect. Both preparations were first tested in animals and showed the characteristic sex and growth responses.

Our observations are then divided into 2 groups: (1) those following injections of Hebin, and (2) those following injections of Growth Hormone. Each of these groups are further considered as (1) acute response and (2) changes after repeated and continued injections (chronic response). All animals were placed on a standard fixed diet—green leaves, lettuce, carrots, and water (later changed to corn, wheat, oats, etc., mixture), and fed once a day. Our blood was taken from a vein in the thigh (1 cc), and the injections made into the marginal vein of the ear, intraperitoneally, etc. The blood sugar determinations were made according to the Folin-Wu method.

Sex Hormones: Following a control determination, 100 units were injected, and blood drawn at intervals. The rabbits had received no food for 15 to 24 hours. A rise in the blood sugar level occurred, the peak coming from 1/2 to 2 hours after the injection, the average being about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.