Summary
These results indicate that the chicken hypophysis is capable of stimulating both follicular growth and luteinization of the rat ovary. The presence of the luteinizer is verified by 3 different methods which are used to identify the luteinizer in mammalian hypophyses. Witschi, et al.
2
have shown that turkey hypophyses contain the luteinizer, based on the results of corpus luteum formation in the ovaries of 2 hypophysectomized rats. This raises the question as to the function of the luteinizing principle in birds since no corpora lutea form in their ovaries. If the stimulation of ovulation is one of the functions of the luteinizing hormone, its presence in the bird gland may be explained on the basis of this particular function. It is possible that the luteinizing hormone will be found in the anterior pituitary of all vertebrates.
