Pituitary control of alimentary blood flow and secretion - Changes in the stomach produced by the administration of posterior pituitary extract

Abstract

A preliminary report on the gastric lesion associated with the injection of a posterior lobe pituitary extract has been given (Dodds, Noble and Smith 1934; Dodds, Hills, Noble and Williams 1935). To assist in determining the mechanism of this reaction, careful histological studies have been made of the changes in the stomach mucosa. It has been found that the gastric lesion may be produced by the subcutaneous, intravenous or intracisternal injection of any posterior pituitary extract containing the pressor fraction. Control extracts of many tissues including anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary have been shown to be inactive. Similarly, the oxytocic fraction of the posterior lobe is without effect. For the extract to be effective when given by mouth, it is essential that the solution be in dilute acetic acid, similar to standard B.P. pituitary extract.