Hypothalamic influences on heterotropic pituitary in the rat

¹ U.S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach, University of California Medical School, Los Angeles, California; and University of Cincinnati Medical School, Cincinnati, Ohio

Anterior pituitaries from neonate rats grew well in the eyes of hypophysectomized recipients and supported a considerable degree of thyroid function as judged by a number of tests. Anterior hypothalamic lesions in the ‘thyrotropin area’ had no effect upon the growth or function of these grafts. The results are discussed with respect to the neurohumoral theory of hypothalamic control over pituitary thyrotropic function.