Effects of Avian and Rat Pituitary Extracts on Tibial Growth and Blood Composition.

Abstract

Chicken and rat hypophyseal extracts were compared with a purified beef growth hormone preparation in the hypophysectomized, immature female rat employing the tibial epiphyseal cartilage assay and hematological alterations. The avian adenohypophysis contains about l/8th of the growth promoting material found in an equivalent amount of rat anterior pituitary extract. Significant depression in hematocrit and blood specific gravity levels occurs with doses of avian extracts which are unable to promote epiphyseal cartilage growth.