INFLUENCE OF THE ADENOHYPOPHYSIS ON THE FROG WATER-BALANCE RESPONSE1

Abstract

Hypophysectomy results in a decrease in the frog water-balance response to pitocin to 1/4-1/3 of normal 5 days-2 weeks after operation. The skin of hypophysectomized frogs is somewhat more permeable to water than the skin of normal frogs. The further increase in permeability of the skin produced by pitocin is much less after hypophysectomy. Thyroxine increases the water-balance response of hypophysectomized frogs to a slight extent. ACTH increases the response to 3/4 of normal. Thyroxine plus ACTH increases the response to normal levels. However, mammalian adrenal cortical extract, desoxycorticosterone glucoside, cortisone, and combinations of these had no effect.