THE ESTIMATION OF ACTH IN HUMAN PITUITARY TISSUE

Abstract

1. The ACTH concentration has been estimated in lyophilized pituitary tissue from five adults, seven infants and eight foetuses. Results are expressed in terms of the international standard. Adult pituitaries contain more ACTH than infantile glands, and infantile glands more than foetal ones. 2. ACTH activity was detected in foetal pituitaries at a period of gestation as early as 16 weeks. 3. The accuracy of the Sayers test was considerably improved when the time interval between hypophysectomy and assay was increased from 24 to 48 hr.