EXPERIMENTAL PHASES OF THE PINEAL PROBLEM1

Abstract

Pinealectomy in successive generations of parent rats exercises no noteworthy effect in the growth or development of the offspring. The same negative results obtain when either parent alone is pinealectomized. Daily intraperitoneal adm. of 1 cc. pineal extract or of frequent pineal implants in pinealectomized rats exercises no marked effect on growth and development of offspring; nor does frequent pineal implants in normal rats. Daily intraperitoneal adm. of 1 cc. pineal extract to successive generations of rats has resulted in an increase in frequency of bleeding, acceleration in rate of somatic differentiation, retardation in rate of growth in offspring of treated rats. These biological effects are progressive in character becoming more marked in successive generations under treatment.