The interrelationship of endocrine organs: with special reference to their relation to calcium and phosphorus metabolism and to basal metabolic rate

(1) Administration of desiccated thyroid extract raises the basal metabolic rate measured in terms of oxygen consumption and produces a diminution in the size and weight of both the albino rat and the white mouse. (2) There is a marked increase in the nitrogen output and a remarkable rise in the excretion of both inorganic phosphorus and urinary calcium by such administration. (3) The effect of prolonged administration of desiccated thyroid causes atrophy and extreme inactivation of the thyroid glands and a distinct degeneration of the epithelium of the vesicles in many parts of the gland. (4) Thyroid administration causes a very marked atrophy and degeneration of the seminiferous tubules with an obvious hypertrophy of the interstitial tissue }which effects indicate in the definite interrelationship between the externally and internally secreting parts of the testicle with that of the autacoid of the thyroid gland. (5) Prolonged administration of thyroid extract causes a distinct diminution in the connective tissue stroma of the ovary accompanied by increased lutein formation and a remarkable hyper - plasia and hypertrophy of the interstitial tissue of the organ with greatly dilated blood vessels to the glands. Such results as these obtained in the ovary, furnishing a definite link of interrelation and association of the two glands, perhaps makes the empirical clinical use of thyroid extract in correcting some obstetrical and gynaecological errors, a little clearer. (6) The suprarenal glands respond to thyroid administration by hypertrophy and hyperactivity of both cortex and medulla of the gland which indicates a firm link of interrelation between the thyroid gland and both parts of the adrenal bodies. (7) The constituting parts of the hypophysis cerebri, particularly the pars anterior, intermedia and pars nervosa seem to be intimately interrelated with the thyroid gland. The pars anterior with thyroid administration show an early very marked decrease in the number of oxyphil cells with some degenerative changes in the nuclei of the few others that are seen. When thyroid administration is pushed a little further, a marked degeneration appears and a general almost complete disappearance of oxyphil cells in the pars anterior. The pars nervosa showing degeneration also. The pars intermedia, however, shows an early indication of degenerative retrogression in the nuclei, i.e. piknosis. (8) No histological evidence was obtained in the pancreas or parathyroids by which any definite interrelationship between these organs and the thyroid gland can be prognosticated. (9) Administration of the anterior pituitary lobe substance whether orally given in the form of desiccated extract or parentrally introduced in the form of freshly prepared extract, raises the basal metabolism rate measured in terms of oxygen consumption and produces an increase in the size and weight of the animals. Such effect, however, is more marked by parentral administration than by feeding the anterior lobe substance. (10) There is, by such administration, a decrease in nitrogen excretion and a very marked decrease in urinary calcium excretion. Inorganic phosphorus excretion is very much increased. (11) There is a definite and remarkable interrelation between the anterior body of the pituitary body and the thyroid gland; the latter responding to oral and parentral administration of the anterior lobe extract by enlargement and increase in weight; and by very marked hyperactivity. (12) Administration of the anterior pituitary extract by whatever route causes marked lutinzation in the ovary with dilatation of the blood vessels. Such dilatation of the blood vessels to the ovary was marked by oral administration. In the testicle the effect of anterior lobe substance is to cause increased spermatogenesis with indication of slight atrophy of the interstitial tissue. Such evidences indicate a link of interrelation between both female and male sex organs with the anterior lobe of the hypophysis. There is also by such administration, a marked increase in weight of both testicles and ovaries. (13) Administration of anterior lobe extracts orally and parentrally induces the adrenal glands to hypertrophy and increased weight. It also produces very marked hyperactivity of both the cortex and medulla. Administration by injection however produces a little more marked effect than by feeding. This indicates that there is a remarkable interrelation between the anterior lobe of the pituitary and the two component parts of the adrenal glands. (14) By whatever route the anterior pituitary extract is administered, it causes a marked increase in the oxyphil cells of the anterior lobe. Other parts of the pituitary body show no evidence of any structural change. The gland as a whole tends to be enlarged by such administration and shows the presence of colloid in the interglandular cleft, particularly marked in the fed animals. (15) By administration of the anterior lobe substance, the pancreas responds with very marked hypertrophy and increased weight. The alveoli are smaller and the organ as a whole is denser. There is also increase in the zymogen granules which are also coarser than normal. No histological evidence suggestive of any change in the islet tissue save that occasionally some nuclei of the cells show more condensed nucleus than normal, probably a phenomenon of retrogressive change. (16) No histological evidence of any change in the parathyroid glands is revealed by which a conclusion can be made as to the interrelation of the anterior lobe of the pituitary with the parathyroids. The liver and spleen show a very remarkable enlargement

Torsion-Free Metabelian Groups With Finite Commutator Quotients

Torsion-Free Metabelian Groups With Finite Commutator Quotients