Endocrinology

Abstract

Progress in endocrinology has been rapid. So large is the field that in one year's harvest an entire chapter could be devoted to each of the endo crine glands. Remarkable achievements have been in many instances be cause of the successful application of newer techniques such as chromatog raphy, radioisotope tracer procedures, and microchemical analyses. In this review an appraisal has been made of experimental work relating to the anterior pituitary, thyroid, adrenal cortex, parathyroid, and pancreas. ANTERIOR PITUITARYMuch interest has been shown in the hormones of the anterior pituitary. Variability of experimental data pertaining to these hormones has resulted, in large measure, from the use of impure preparations and, although im proved methods of purification have become available, they remain expen sive and laborious. Highly purifi ed hormones are now obtainable for re search purposes from the Endocrinology Section of the National Institutes of Health (1), and it seems likely that'their use will lead to a better appraisal of the specifi c action of these substances.For many years attempts have been made to ascribe specific hormonal functions to the various cells of the pituitary. At first there was only con jecture, but later assignation of function to specific cell types was based on histological examination of the pituitary in patients with various glandular disorders. More recently, special stains and solvents, bioassays, and selective destruction of minute parts of the pituitary have been applied to this analy sis. Many such studies have been performed and the definitive results of a recent project are outlined by Barrnett et al.(2 ). These workers show that thyrotropic, follicle-stimulating, and luteinizing hormones are localized to those basophiles which have an affinity for periodic acid-Schiff stain.Gro wth ho rmone (GH}.-It has been recognized that growth hormone from bovine or porcine sources is ineffective in man. Indeed, a degree of 'The survey of literature pertaining to this review was completed in August, 1957.For the sake of brevity the abbreviation et ai, is used when three or more authors' names appear on a paper. S The following abbreviations are used: GH (growth hormone); ACTH (adrenocorticotropin); MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hor;mone); TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone); FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone); LH (luteinizing hormone) : PBI (protein-bound iodine) : BMR (basal metabolic rate): TBP (thy roxine-binding protein) : PTH (parathyroid hormone ) : GFR (glomerular filtration rate): Tmp (maximal rate of tubular reabsorption of phosphorus by kidney): Tmo (maximal rate of tubular reabsorption of glucose by kidney).