ON THE RELIABILITY OF PRESENT METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING TWO GONADOTROPIC HORMONES, FOLLICLESTIMULATOR AND LUTEINIZER

Abstract

A review is given of the basis of the theory of 2 gonadotropic hormones, FSH and LH. Expts. were conducted on rats: to test the theory that LH prep. contained a separate hormone which augmented the action of FSH; to compare the augmenting action of substances when mixed in vitro with a pituitary gonadotropic fraction and when injected separately at different sites. The augmenting action of LH, casein and egg albumin on pituitary synergist was found to be similar when mixed in vitro. When given in separate injs. no augmentation was observed. There was a distinct difference in the actions of LH and FSH. LH was apparently not a separate hormone, and the differences in activity of the gonadotropic extracts from several sources were dependent, not upon the relative conc. of FSH and LH, but upon slight variations in the chemical nature or physical state of the hormone.