THE INDUCTION OF PRECOCIOUS SEXUAL MATURITY BY PITUITARY HOMEOTRANSPLANTS

Abstract

By daily anterior-pituitary transplants from adult to young [female] rats, sexual maturity was secured as early as the weaning date (22nd day of life) where treatment was begun on the 14th day of life. When the transplants were begun at about the weaning date, only 4-6 were required. The age at which rats may be thus matured by pituitary transplantations greatly transcends any variability in the age of maturity of untreated controls. The genital system of the precociously matured rat displays all the structural characteristics of animals maturing at the usual time. Control transplantations of other glandular tissues have failed to hasten the time of maturity. An early hypophysec-tomy prevents the attainment of sexual maturity, a picture opposite to that given by the anterior-pituitary transplants. The transplants do not induce changes in the genital system in the absence of the ovaries nor do they prevent the uterine atrophy which follows ovariec-tomy.