A SEX DIFFERENCE IN THE HORMONE CONTENT OF THE ANTERIOR HYPOPHYSIS OF THE RAT

Abstract

A comparison of the strength of the hormone contained in the anterior hypophysis of [male] and [female] rats was made by implanting the pituitaries of adult donors into immature [female] rats. After 96 hrs. the young recipients were killed and the weight of their ovaries and the presence of corpora lutea was taken as the criterion for the degree of stimulation. Three [male] hypophyses are as potent as 5 or 6 implants from [female][female]. When similarly implanted the hypophyses from immature [male][male] were shown to be more than twice as effective in producing stimulation of the immature ovaries as hypophyses from adult [female][female]. This indicates an increased hormone storage and an increased rate of production in the normal [male] gland.