THE GONADOTROPIC CONTENT OF THE HYPOPHYSIS THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE NORMAL FEMALE RAT

Abstract

Pituitaries from 248 normal [female] rats, ranging in age from 14 days to 21/2 yrs., were assayed for gonadotropic content by the uterine method on 272 immature rats. Potency rises to a peak at 21 days and decreases gradually until puberty. At puberty there is a rapid drop to one-half the pre-puberal level. Throughout adult sexual life the content of the pituitary remains constantly at the low pubertal level, despite continued increase in gland size. This means that the adult gland stores very little gonadotropic complex. In the climacteric, the potency is markedly increased.