EFFECTIVENESS OF HEME IN THE AUGMENTATION OF GONADOTROPIC EXTRACTS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES1

Abstract

Human, hog, cow and sheep pituitary gonadotrophic extracts and FSH made from sheep pituitary powder were augmented by heme while extracts of horse pituitary glands, PMS and PU were not augmented. The gonadotrophic hormones from sheep pituitary glands, PMS and PU, regardless of whether or not they were augmented, were associated with the heme when it was precipitated. The mechanism by which heme is believed to produce the augmentation is discussed. Metal porphyrin compounds such as heme, reduced heme and chlorophyll were found to be effective augmenters. Cyanin was also effective while ferric gluconate and several other substances did not augment.