THE THYROTROPHIC ACTIVITY OF THE PITUITARY OF THE WHITE LEGHORN COCKEREL AS RELATED TO ITS CYTOLOGY*

Abstract

INTRODUCTION IT WAS recognized as early as 1898 by Comte that a relationship exists between the cytological picture of the pituitary and the physiological state of the animal. Numerous attempts have been made to correlate the function of the anterior hypophysis with its cytology, but it cannot yet be said with certainty that a particular pituitary cell type is responsible for the elaboration of a certain hormone. Perhaps the closest approach to unanimity of opinion in this matter is in regard to the origin of the follicle stimulating hormone from basophiles. This is supported by the cytological work of Severinghaus with the rat (1937), Payne with the chick (1947), and others, and by such experimental work as that of Schooley and Riddle on the pigeon (1938) and Breneman on the chick (1941). The origin of the luteinizing hormone from the acidophiles is a little less certain, while considerable confusion exists regarding the cytological source of the thyrotrophic hormone.