HYPOPHYSEAL–ADRENAL ACTIVITY IN COMBINED HUMAN FOETAL TISSUE CULTURES

Abstract

Experiments carried out with human foetal hypophysis or adenohypophysis cultured in combination with adrenal tissue supplied evidence that the human foetal adrenal possesses the potentiality to secrete hydrocortisone, and the human foetal hypophysis to secrete ACTH, and, further, that the hypophysis continues to produce ACTH at a low level without stimulation by the hypothalamus, at least for some time.ACTH added when hydrocortisone production had already been falling for several days invariably increased adrenocortical hormone production. Remarkably, this production reached its peak not on the day of addition, but 2 to 4 days later, although the cultures had been washed daily and no fresh ACTH had been introduced.