PROLACTIN ACTIVITY AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN PHARYNGEAL HYPOPHYSES FROM EMBALMED CADAVERS

Abstract

SUMMARY One hundred and forty-six human pharyngeal hypophyses from embalmed cadavers were fractionated in eight batches. A human prolactin-growth hormone extract was obtained from each batch. The prolactin activity of each extract was tested by the pigeon crop micromethod and the growth hormone content of the same extract was determined by radioimmunoassay. The results indicate that the human prolactin-growth hormone extract of pharyngeal hypophyses from embalmed cadavers retained prolactin activity and growth hormone to a significant degree despite adverse conditions post mortem. It is concluded that the human pharyngeal hypophysis is a tissue of functional significance. The apparent isolation of the pharyngeal hypophysis is of interest with regard to the role of the hypothalamus in the control of the sellar adenohypophysis. The functional significance of the pharyngeal hypophysis may be of importance in subjects for whom the total destruction of adenohypophysial tissue is considered to be of therapeutic value.