Parabiosis in Physiological Studies

Abstract

The author gives an historical review, a summary of surgical technique, theories of exchange, a review of parabiosis intoxication, and the uses or contributions of the parabiosis method in the following studies: pituitary-gonad relations, pituitary-thyroid relations, pituitary-growth hormone, pituitary-adrenal relations, effect of sex on adrenal glands, mammary gland studies, diabetes mellitus, skin grafting, nerve anastomosis, tumor transplantation, kidney and hypertension, X-irradiation, liver and bile duct, allergy and immunity/ He adds, "Most fruitful results have been in the fields of pituitary-gonad endocrinology, but as more investigators become familiar with the method new opportunities for its application will arise. Now that exact measurements of amounts of blood exchange have been made and there is no longer any doubt concerning anastomoses of capillary size, measurements of humorally transmitted substances are more dependable. Important contributions by the parabiosis method seem imminent in irradiation studies, skin grafting, hypertension and other fields.".