The Response of the Normal Guinea Pig to the Administration of Liver Extracts

Abstract

The normal guinea pig reacts repeatedly to the oral or parenteral administration of therapeutically active liver extract with a significant reticulocytosis. The minimal effective amount of fresh liver, administered in the form of an extract, is about 0.6 mgm. per kgm. Other substances, therapeutically effective in pernicious anemia, are also reticulocytogenic in the guinea pig. The extract of a normal human liver is exceedingly potent, the extract of the liver of a patient dying of pernicious anemia is almost completely devoid of effect.