Abstract
Extracts either of the anterior pituitary or derivatives of human pregnancy urine cause follicular growth followed by rapid luteinization in the rodent's ovary. The present report emphasizes the difference in biological response between these 2 substances after a study of a considerable series of Macacus monkeys.
Ovaries of 31 experimental monkeys, ranging in body weight from 1800 to 5100 gm., have been studied. These animals were treated with anterior pituitary implants, with water soluble fraction of the pyridine extract of sheep anterior pituitary (Fevold, Hisaw and Leonard), with an extract of pregnancy urine (Zondek's method), and with Antuitrin S, also a pregnancy urine derivative. Animals were treated for 4 to 30 days, injections being made in most cases twice daily, subcutaneously or intravenously.
Hisaw and his associates 1 reported the effects of the pyridine extracts of the anterior lobe in causing follicular growth and changes in the sexual skin of monkeys. The action of pyridine extract on the ovary of the monkey in the present series (ovaries of 13 animals studied microscopically) may cause either the small cystic condition, similar to the effects obtained by implants (Allen, Hartman) or a rather uniform growth of all follicles depending on method of administration, state of the ovary at the time of treatment, total dosage and length of treatment. We have found, as Hisaw, et al., had reported, that a prompt response of the sex skin occurs after this extract (reddening, turgor and a progressive pachydermatous folding characteristic of the monkey entering a normal adolescence). There are no failures in this external change when a potent follicle-stimulating extract is used.
In contrast to these findings is the complete absence of this type of response after treatment with derivatives of pregnancy urine.
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