A SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE PURIFICATION OF SHEEP ACTH1

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Abstract
A simple method is described for the preparation from sheep pituitaries of ACTH of 100 U.S.P. units/mg. with a yield of 50 mg./kg. wet weight of glands. The method Involves aqueous extraction of ground sheep pituitaries with 0.1N HC1, removal of coagulated proteins at 85° C and pH 5.6, oxycellulose adsorption of the hormone from the supernatant and elution with 0.1N HC1, followed by column chromatography on IRC-50. The oxycellulose eluate and the IRC-50 column eluate are both dialyzed. The ACTH is characterized in hypophysectomized rats by its ability to increase the adrenal weights and repair the morphology, decrease the thymus weights, deplete adrenal ascorbic acid, and stimulate calorigenesis and erythropoiesis.