THE EFFECT OF DAILY TRANSPLANTS OF THE ANTERIOR LOBE FROM GONADECTOMIZED RATS ON IMMATURE TEST ANIMALS

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Abstract
Experiments were conducted on 62 rats of both sexes, one group being gonadectomized at the age of 20-30 days and the second at 1 yr. of age. The animals were sacrificed 8 mos. after the operation and their pituitaries transplanted on successive days into immature mice and rats. A control group received the glands from normal non-gonadectomized rats. Results indicate that the anterior lobe of rats which have been gonadectomized for 8 mos. contains a greater supply of gonadal stimulating hormone than occurs in the normal animal. This is shown by the earlier sex maturation and in- creased size of the ovaries of the test animals receiving transplants from the castrated animals. This would seem to indicate that the anterior lobe continues to elaborate gonad stimulating hormone even after castration. There is no sex difference in the biological potency of the gland of gonadectomized donors and no significant difference as regards the age of the donor at the time of gonadec-tomy.