THE PITUITARY GLAND AND THE SUPRARENAL CORTEX

Abstract

The pituitary gland is functionally related to the suprarenal cortex, and this relationship can be understood from embryologic considerations. There can be no question but that glandular interrelationships have made it difficult to understand many problems in endocrinology. As Hoskins¹ has shown, there are almost innumerable combinations possible between the endocrine glands. It is, therefore, with some hesitancy that a discussion is undertaken to point out a particular correlation. The explanation to be offered finds its strength in its agreement with the known clinical, pathologic and experimental facts, and is based on sound fundamentals of embryology. Aplastic states of the pituitary gland are concomitant with aplasia of the suprarenal cortex and, conversely, hyperplasia of the pituitary gland results in hyperplasia of the suprarenal cortex. From the clinical side, the best examples of the aplastic and deformed pituitary are found in anencephalic fetuses. Hemicephaly, oxycephaly and other developmental defects are accompanied