The influence of the gonads on protein metabolism

Abstract

Ovariectomy of adult rabbits leads to a 16% increase in the excretion of urinary creatinine, commencing at least 5 mos. after the operation. The latent period is longer and the increase smaller than in castrated [male][male]. Injection of saline suspension of ovary causes a fall in the high urinary creatinine of ovariectomy. Both ovarian and testicular extracts cause a slight fall when injected into normal animals. Larger and significant decreases occur on injection into ovariectomized animals. Injection of anterior lobe extract of the pituitary leads to an increased excretion of urinary creatinine in normal [female][female] but has no effect on the high creatinine output of ovariectomized animals. The results afford evidence of an endocrine relationship between the ovaries and creatinine metabolism, this relationship being an indirect one through the anterior lobe of the pituitary.