The secretion of pituitrin in mammals, as shown by perfusion of the isolated kidney of the dog

Abstract

The isolated kidney of the dog was perfused with blood from a heart-lung preparation. An arrangement was made for parallel perfusion of either (a) the head and neck, or (b) the hind limbs and pelvis. Part of the blood returned from (a) or (b) reached the kidney after oxygen-ation. When the head and neck were switched into per-fusion-parallel with the kidney, there ensued diminution in rate of urine flow, augmentation in urinary chloride output relatively or sometimes absolutely, and diminution in renal blood flow. The reactions still occurred after previous exposure of the pituitary body, but not after its removal. They were also absent when parallel perfusion was made through the hind limbs and pelvis instead of through the head and neck. It is concluded that an anti-diuretic, chloride-augmenting, and vaso-constrictor principle or principles is contributed by the pituitary body to blood during its passage through the head.