Abnormal Thyrotropic Substance in the Pituitaries of Patients with Graves' Disease1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The thyrotropic substance in the pituitary glands of 4 patients with Graves'' disease was studied and found to be immunologically abnormal. The time response curve in the bioassay for pituitary thyrotropic activity in all patients was normal. The pituitary thyrotropic activity in 3 patients who died in a hyperthyroid state was found to be about 1/25 the normal average, and failed to be neutralized by antinormal TSH [thyrotropin] serum in an amount 50-200 times the minimum amount required for neutralization of normal TSH. The activity in the gland of a patient who died in a euthyroid state was within the normal range, and was partially neutralized by anti-TSH serum. Normal human TSH added to the patient''s pituitary extract was neutralized by anti-TSH serum. The thyrotropic activity not neutralized with anti-TSH serum in the patients'' pituitary glands was extracted by the percolation method of Bates and showed a dose response curve similar to that of normal TSH.