FAILURE OF STEROID HORMONES TO INDUCE MAMMARY GROWTH IN HYPOPHYSECTOMI2ED RATS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Estrogens failed to stimulate mammary growth in hypophysectomized [male] rats. Substitution of certain steroid hormones (desoxycorticosterone acetate and testosterone propionate) for the pituitary did not permit any estrogen response on the mammary glands. Testosterone slowed the rate of regression when injected immediately after hypophysectomy. Direct application of estrogen to the skin over the mammary glands of hypophysectomized rats likewise failed to stimulate growth, whereas it did so in the normal or partially hypophysectomized rat. Estrogens and other steroid hormones must work synergistically with a pituitary "mammogen" to cause growth of the mammary gland.