THE FUNCTION OF THE LOBES OF THE HYPOPHYSIS AS INDICATED BY REPLACEMENT THERAPY WITH DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE OX GLAND

The proper administration of an endocrine principle shouldcorrect an abnormality due to the deficiency of this principle.† In the tadpole four such rather sharply defined abnormalitiesresult from early hypophysectomy,§ namely, (1) a slowed growthrate; (2) an underdevelopment of the interrenal bodies, para-thyroids and thyroid with a consequent failure of the larva tometamorphose; (3) an abnormal condition of the pigment bearing cells resulting in albinism; and (4) a large and persistentfat organ which we are inclined to believe indicates a disturbancein metabolism. We should, by the proper administration ofthe hypophysis be able to correct these disturbances or, indeed, to go further and by the administration of the separate lobesdetermine which lobe when administered will remedy a particular abnormality and in this way analyze the functional natureof each of the lobes of this composite gland. The pituitary ofthe mammal (beef) lends itself readily to such an analysis.