FURTHER STUDIES ON A PITUITARY FACTOR WITH SPECIFIC INFLUENCE ON METABOLISM

Abstract

Pituitary preparations from which known metabolic hormones have been eliminated contain a factor specifically concerned with metabolism. During a six-hour period immediately following the subcutaneous injection of such preparations into fasting rabbits a significant rise in the respiratory quotient (R.Q.) values occurs. The R.Q. values of normally fed rabbits are lowered by similar treatment. These changes are usually, but not necessarily, accompanied by an increase in the metabolic rate. Purified melanophore hormone preparations exert substantially similar effects. Control preparations of liver and muscle tissue have no significant effect on the R.Q. values of fed or fasted rabbits and have a variable effect on the oxygen consumption of these animals.