DEUTERON IRRADIATION OF THE MONKEY PITUITARY1

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Abstract
Observations on the effects of pituitary irradiation have been extended to the monkey. An effort has been made to determine whether irradiation exerts a selective effect on the functions of different cell types in the pituitary, and to determine the dosage necessary for complete destruction of the pituitary. The pituitaries of a group of young monkeYS of known age, 4 females and one male, were irradiated with a beam of high energy deuterons. The pituitaries of three monkeys received 9000 rep, two received half this dose, or 4500 rep. All were irradiated when immature, between S mo. and 1 yv. 3 mo. of age. They were observed for post-irradiation periods of 2 yr. 4 mo. to 4.yr. 4 mo. The radiation was localized in the pituitary by passage of the beam through an aperture of the size and the shape of the pituitary. A high concentration of the radiation in the pituitary with only limited irradiation of other tissues in the path of the beam was achieved by rotation of the animals during irradiation. Only slight damage was noted in adjacent tissues, including nerves, blood vessels, and brain. No hemorrhages occurred from the internal carotid or the circle of Willis.