AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

A specific metabolic hormone of the pituitary gland and its relation to the melanophore-dilating hormone.

by O'Donovan, Denis K.




Institution: McGill University
Department: Department of Biochemistry.
Degree: PhD
Year: 1938
Keywords: Biochemistry.
Record ID: 1507052
Full text PDF: http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/thesisfile131754.pdf


Abstract

The study of the direct role of the pituitary gland in metabolism is obscured by the intricate maze of interrelationships with other endocrine glands. Hence many apparently characteristic signs of hypophyseal deficiency are in reality due to secondary degeneration of dependent glands, particularly the thyroid and adrenal cortex. As a result of tbe rapid advance in our knowledge of the trophic hormones of the anterior lobe of the pituitary, we are now able to identify, with some degree of certainty, some cardinal signs of hypophyseal deficiency. These are in general more obvious within a few days after hypophysectomy, in contra-distinction to the secondary symptoms which may take as long as three weeks to become fully established, owing to the slow regression in the activity of the dependent gland. The primary signs of pituitary deficiency are also often recognizable by their unique characteristics, not simulated by a deficiency of any other hormone. [...]