EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF GIGANTISM BY FEEDING THE ANTERIOR LOBE OF THE HYPOPHYSIS

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Abstract
1. Metamorphosed salamanders of the species Ambystoma opacum and Ambystoma tigrinum were fed on a pure diet of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis of cattle; the controls were fed on an abundant diet of earthworms. 2. The rate of growth of the animals fed on the anterior lobe of the hypophysis was greatly increased over the rate of growth of normal animals. 3. Growth of the animals fed on anterior lobe did not cease after they had reached the normal "maximum" size of the species, and experimental giants were produced. 4. The largest animal of the species Ambystoma opacum fed on anterior lobe of the hypophysis was 19 mm. larger than the largest normal animal of this species known to the writer; the largest animal of the species Ambystoma tigrinum fed on anterior lobe is at present about 28 mm. larger than the largest normal animal of the eastern race of this species known to the writer.