Influence of Electronarcosis on Secretory Activity of the Pituitary Gland. *

Abstract

Conclusions

Experimental evidence indicates that a series of electronarcoses in animals results in hypertrophy of the thyroid, adrenals, and gonads. Since in the blood of electronarcotized dogs an increase in thyrotropic substance is found, it is believed that the mechanism by which this thyroid hypertrophy is obtained is by way of an increased secretion of the pituitary hormones. It might be conceivable that the general cortical and subcortical stimulation which results from passage of current through the brain could produce a direct nervous stimulation of the respective endocrine organs. However, whereas direct stimulation of certain endocrine glands is possible,⁶ the response to such nervous stimulation is of a much smaller order than that resulting from activation of the organ by the specific hypophyseal “trophic” hormone. That direct stimulation of the thyroid is most likely not involved in the hypertrophic response to electronarcosis is shown by the increased thyrotropic activity imparted to dog serum by subjecting the dog to a series of electronarcoses. The increased endocrinotropic activity seems to be only temporary.