On Obtaining Luteinizing and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones from Human Pituitaries

Abstract

A method is described for extracting human pituitaries with an alkaline potassium chloride solution to obtain good yields of FSH and LH and to recover GH from the residue, including steps for the further purification of FSH and LH. The LH (3.35 NIH-S1 U&mg) obtained, which was virtually free of FSH, appeared to exist in polymeric forms. Although only one component was detected by the immunologic techniques used, electrophoretic heterogeneity was demonstrated. The several electrophoretic components showed biologic activity. The material was homogeneous by ultracentrifugal analysis, and the sedimentation constant was greater at neutral pH (2.28 S) than at acid pH (1.57 S). The FSH (100 NIH-S1 U&mg) obtained still demonstrated LH activity but appeared as a single component in ultracentrifugation and during starch-gel electrophoresis in EDTA-borate- Tris buffer. Electrophoresis of this FSH in 8m urea-O.1m formic acid revealed 2 components.