EFFECT OF PYRIDOXINE DEFICIENCY ON THE GONADOTROPHIC CONTENT OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY IN THE RAT1

Abstract

NELSON, Lyons and Evans (1951) have previously shown that the reproductive disturbances observed in pyridoxine (B₆) deficiency are due to a lack of the ovarian hormones, estrin and progestin. This was demonstrated by the maintenance of pregnancy in B₆-deficient rats injected with the synthetic hormones, estrone and progesterone, at the dosage levels known to be effective in rats hypophysectomized and oophorectomized after breeding (Lyons, 1943). Attempts to maintain pregancy in B₆-deficient rats with the pituitary gonadotrophins were only partially successful, indicating that the function of both the pituitay and the ovary was affected by Be-depletion (Nelson, Lyons and Evans, 1953). To obtain information on the anterior pituitary, the glands of both B₆- deficient and normal rats have been bioassayed for the three gonadotrophic hormones. Ovarian function, as shown by the response to injected gonadotrophins will be considered in a later report. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The anterior pituitaries of normal and of B₆-deficient female rats were dissected, weighed, ground, and injected as a suspension in isotonic saline with 2% butanol.