Abstract
We reported the effects of aqueous pyridine extracts of sheep anterior pituitary on the ovaries of sexually immature Macacus rhesus monkeys. 1 We were able to produce marked follicular development in such ovaries, but in no case did definite luteinization occur. This was in agreement with the findings of E. Allen, 2 Hartman, 3 Courrier, 4 Saiki, 5 and Engle. 6
Nevertheless, intraperitoneal injections of anterior pituitary extracts into adult rats produce a greater degree of luteinization than comparable subcutaneous treatment. Similarly, Friedman 7 showed, in the rabbit, that the type of ovarian response to the urine of pregnant women varies with the method of its administration; ovulation resulted from intravenous injections, whereas intraperitoneal treatment produced only the luteinization of the resulting corpora haemorrhagica. These observations suggested the possibility of altering the ovarian response of sexually immature monkeys by varying the injection procedure. We had previously found that a single intravenous injection of anterior pituitary preparation following numerous subcutaneous injections did not modify the effects obtained. Experiments were consequently devised in which a greater number of intravenous injections were given. We wish to report the response of 2 sexually immature monkeys to such treatment.
Both animals were first given a series of subcutaneous injections of a water soluble fraction of an aqueous pyridine extract of dried sheep pituitary† in doses equal to 0.5 gm. of the dried tissue at 12-hour intervals. Monkeys 8 and 9 received respectively 6 and 20 such subcutaneous injections. The initial treatment elicited the cornification of the vaginal epithelium and excessive development of the external genitalia and sexual skin as previously described. 1 At this point laparotomy on monkey 9 revealed ovaries of the following dimensions: right ovary, 2.2×1.8×1.8 cm.; left ovary, 1.9×1.9×1.9 cm.
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