Further Studies on the Chemical Nature of Reptilian Gonadotropins: FSH and LH in the American Alligator and Green Sea Turtle

Abstract

Fractionation of pituitaries from the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis) and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) revealed the existence of two distinct types of gonadotropins in each of these reptiles. The behavior of these hormones in three chromatographic systems (Amberlite CG-50, sulfoethyl-Sephadex C-50 and DEAE-cellulose) and their activities in several nonmammalian bioasays paralleled those of FSH and LH from other tetrapod species. The hormones from each reptile were prepared in highly purified form for chemical analysis.