Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH) and ACTH Activities of Pituitary Homografts in Albino Rats

Abstract
The MSH and ACTH activities of renal capsular pituitary homografts in hypophysectomized albino rats were assayed and compared with the activities of these hormones in intact control pituitaries. The ratio of MSH to ACTH in the intact pituitary was approximately 6 times greater than that in the grafted pituitary. This difference was due largely to the loss of MSH activity in the transplants. Since no MSH activity was demonstrated in the plasma of the homografted rats, MSH secretion could not be evaluated. (Endocrinology75: 187,1964)