A POSSIBLE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE PREPUTIAL GLANDS OF THE FEMALE RAT BY THE PITUITARY GLAND AND INDIRECT EFFECTS PRODUCED THROUGH THE ADRENALS AND GONADS BY AUGMENTED PITUITARY EXTRACTS

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Abstract
In [female] rats removal of the thymus, uterus, adrenals and ovaries did not affect the wt. of the preputial glands. Hypophysectomy in either sex was followed by an atrophy of the preputial glands to approx. half normal size within 10 days. Histological examination confirmed the atrophic changes. Augmented pituitary extracts caused marked preputial stimulation in normal [female] rats. Such stimulation was mainly an indirect one through the adrenals or ovaries, depending on the extract. Augmentation of the preputial effect was marked, but was dependent on augmentation of the corticotrophic or gonadotrophic activity. A direct effect of much smaller magnitude could be observed on the preputials following treatment with pituitary extracts in animals deprived of adrenals and ovaries. The sensitivity of the preputials of the hypophy-sectomised [female] rat to testosterone propionate was much less than normal. Simultaneous inj. of a pituitary extract tended to restore the sensitivity to normal. Preputial stimulation when present in animals was not necessarily associated with uterine hypertrophy, vaginal mucification or stimulation of the secondary sex organs in the [male]. The substance evidently is not any androgen yet described. The substance may be secreted by either the adrenal or ovary following treatment with pituitary extracts, but there is no evidence to indicate whether one or more substances might be produced. [feamle] rats which had both preputial glands removed at the time of weaning eventually went through a normal pregnancy. The possible function of the preputial glands is discussed.