LOCAL RESPONSES OF THE ‘SEXUAL SKIN’ AND MAMMARY GLANDS OF MONKEYS TO CUTANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF ESTROGEN

Abstract

Small doses of estrogen in alcohol applied cutan. induce local responses in the "sexual skin" of immature [female] monkeys. Estrone in alc. (1 to 3[gamma] daily for 8 and 12 days) on one side produced a unilateral reaction while alcohol alone on the other side furnished a control. Similar treatment (3[gamma] daily for 30 and 12 days) on one breast of young [male] monkeys induced considerably more growth in both nipple and rudimentary glandular tissue of that side. The other mammary gland showed slight growth. This type of result encourages use of estrogens locally in small doses, clearly below the threshold for systemic results, in such cases as atrophic diseases of the vulva and asymmetrical development of the breasts.