Effect of Rauwolfia serpentina on Thyroid and Pituitary Glands of Young Rats.

Abstract

1. An extract of Rauwolfia serpentina was administered daily by subcutaneous injection to 20 rats. The daily dosage was equivalent to 1 mg/kilo body weight and was continued from 21st to the 65th to 70th days of life. At autopsy body weights and weights of pituitary gland, thyroid, ovaries, and adrenals were obtained. 2. Application of analysis of covariance leads to the conclusion that at this dose level administration of Rauwolfia serpentina to young rats resulted in (1) a diminution of weight of thyroid by 40%, at the 1% level; (2) a similar reduction in weight of pituitary gland by 8%; (3) no significant change in either ovarian or adrenal weights, after making allowance for body weight differences.