ABILITY OF ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONES, PROLACTIN AND THYROXIN TO SUSTAIN WEIGHT OF BODY AND VISCERA OF HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED PIGEONS

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Abstract
White Carneau pigeons, 1.5 mos. old, were hypophysectomized and injected daily for 10 days with adrenal cortical hormones, thyroxin and proiactin. These substances were administered separately and in various combinations. ACE and DCA partially prevented the 21% loss of body wt. which otherwise occurred during 10 days following removal of the ant. pituitary. Optimal effects of DCA were obtained with daily doses of 2 or 3 mg. Although either 1 mg. of DCA or 1 U of proiactin only partially supported body wt. these quantities when injected together had additive effects; together they maintained or more than maintained the pre-operative wt. of pigeons. Thyroxin added to this combination did not induce additional gains in body wt. Cortical hormones partly supported food consumption and stimulated water intake, but there was no significant hydration of breast muscles or livers. Adequate doses of cortical hormones maintained the wts. of the intestine and liver, and partially supported the pancreas. Hypophysectomized pigeons given 1 mg. DCA and 1 U prolactin had livers heavier and intestines longer, though somewhat lighter, than those of unoperated pigeons; the pancreas retained about 70% of the normal wt., and were thus nearly twice as heavy as those of untreated controls. When 5 or 10 ug. of thyroxin was added to this combination the wt. of the intestine was probably increased and the pancreas was 20% heavier. Since force-feeding alone only partially maintained the intestine and pancreas it is concluded that, like prolactin, DCA and thyroxin have a specific action upon these organs.