INHIBITION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTION OF GONADOTROPHIN, THYROTROPHIN AND CORTICOTROPHIN BY SMALL AMOUNTS OF SERUM AND CEREBRO-SPINAL FLUID

Abstract

SUMMARY The action of human chorionic gonadotrophin on mice was inhibited by small amounts of serum (1·8 c.c.) and cerebro-spinal fluid (0·6 ml.) from thirty-one out of forty-two mentally and physically retarded male patients aged 8–16 yr. Serum from some of these patients also inhibited the action of thyrotrophic hormone in mice and of corticotrophin in rats. Small (1·8 ml.) amounts of serum of three out of fifteen mentally normal subjects of the same age range inhibited the action of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The serum of four healthy adult men had no inhibitory activity. However, the serum of the parents of two morons, whose serum was inhibitory, also inhibited the action of HCG. The inhibition of gonadotrophic activity by the serum and cerebro-spinal fluid was similar to the action of protein-free pineal extracts.