RETENTION OF SEX FUNCTIONS AFTER ISOLATION OF THE PARS ANTERIOR BY EXTIRPATION OF THE HYPOPHYSIAL STALK

Abstract

The distal portion of the pars anterior was isolated by the surgical procedure of removing the hypophysial stalk tissue and the proximal portion of the pars anterior in 9 dogs. Sexual functions remained completely intact in 2 dogs as evidenced by their ability to reproduce. When judged by gross and histological studies, the ovaries and genital tracts remained normal in 4 others of the group. In the 3 remaining dogs, the ovaries and genital tracts, as revealed by histologic studies, were markedly atrophied. There was no correlation between retention of sex functions and the size of the isolated mass of pars anterior tissue remaining. Two of the dogs, in which there was obvious sex regression, had as much and in instances more viable pars anterior tissue remaining than did the dogs which retained sex functions. There was a definite correlation between retention of sex functions and the cytology of the isolated pars anterior remnant. In those instances where functional deficits were demonstrable, both the basophiles and acidophiles were reduced in numbers and the basophiles which were present did not stain normally.