PITUITARY STALK-SECTION AND SOME OF ITS EFFECTS ON ENDOCRINE FUNCTION IN THE FETAL LAMB

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Abstract
A method to section the pituitary stalk of the fetal lamb after 105 days gestational age is detailed. The stalk is approached through a window in the frontal bone. In order to prevent generation of the hypothalamo-pituitary connections a silicone plate is introduced through the probe used to fracture the stalk. The surgical outcome and viability of 11 pituitary stalk sectioned fetuses is described over periods of up to 23 days. The presence of putuitary infarction following stalk section was related to damage of the anterior hypophysial vessels if the probe was deviated from the mid-line at any time in its course. The effect of this procedure on fetal plasma 14 [thyroxine] and PRL [prolactin] concentrations and the initiation of premature labor by the continuous infusion of cortisol into the fetus is described.

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