Vitamin E and Pituitary Hormone. II. Failure of Ant. Pituitary Hormone and Prolan A to Substitute Completely Vitamin E

Abstract

59domen was distended showing that, when given intraperitoneally, these preparations were toxic. No signs of hastened maturity of sexual organs were observed, but rather a tendency of the uterus and tubes to atrophy.Parallel with vitamin E experiments prolan A (from pregnancy urine) and hormone prepared from anterior lobe of hypophysis were tested. The preparations were administered subcutaneously as well as per 0s. In 311 cases enhanced maturity was observed, i. e., ripening of follicles, opening of vagina and great hyperemia and hypertrophy of labiae vaginalis, uterus and tubes. In case of subcutaneous administration the reaction followed within 80-100 hours and the prolan preparations were active in very small doses, while in cases of peroral administration the reaction followed in 160-180 hours and was not so noticeable and larger doses were required.We were unable to repeat Verzkr's findings? and conclude that vitamin E does not induce sexual maturity as does anterior pituitary hormone and prolan A ; this method therefore can not he used for standardization of vitamin E preparations. 6994 P Vitamin E and Pituitary Hsormone. 11. Failure of Ant. Pituitary Hormone and Prolan A to Substitute Completely Vitamin E,In disagreement with reports of Verz5r and his collaborators, results obtained by us1 on young rats indicate that vitamin E has a biological action different from that of gonadotropic anterior pituitary hormone and prolan A. In a different type of test we have used mature female rats which were raised on vitamin E-free diet and have tested the capacity of gonadotropic pituitary hormone and prolan A to induce fertility in them as does vitamin E. These rats, raised on vitamin E-free diet and all more than 3 months old, were divided (May 30) into 2 groups (I and 11) ; both groups being left on vitamin E-free diet. Group I received twice a week 0.5 cc. of wheat-germ extracts as a source of vitamin 1 PROC. Sw. En.