Abstract
That the blood of cattle contains a substance which interacts with certain anterior pituitary extracts in a manner which enhances the ovary-stimulating effect of the latter was shown first by Evans, et al. 1 An attempt has been made in the present study to determine more specifically the portion of the blood which is responsible for the augmentation.
It has been noted earlier 2 that there was no apparent correlation between the stages of the reproductive cycle represented by the donor cattle and the augmentive power of their blood serum. These serum samples were decanted from clotted blood. It has since been noted that the amount of augmentation from a standard amount of such serum appears in some cases to be proportionate to the redness of the serum, i. e., the amount of hemolysis that has occurred.
Tests have been made of clear plasma and of the sediment or formed elements which were thrown down by centrifugation of freshly drawn citrated blood. The latter were washed 3 times with approximately equal volumes of physiological saline. Test samples of both plasma and sediment were combined with 50% pyridine-33% acetone soluble sheep pituitary extracts prepared by the method of Fevold, et al. 3 Seven samples of blood from 4 different animals have been tested in this way (Table I).
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