New England Journal of Medicine · 1953 · 19 citations · 84 references
Life SciencesEndocrinologyPharmacologyHormone BiochemistryNeuroendocrinologySteroid BiochemistryAdrenal EndocrinologyAdrenal HormonesAdrenal Steroid HormonesAdrenal SteroidogenesisPituitary HormonesSteroid Hormone BiochemistryAdrenal Cortex FunctionAdrenal Cortex PhysiologyAdrenal Cortex SteroidogenesisAdrenal Cortical HormonesAdrenal Steroid PharmacologyAdrenocortical SecretionAdrenocorticotropic Hormone SecretionAnterior Pituitary Hormone Secretion
ACTHThe classic studies of Smith469 , 470 showed that marked atrophy of the adrenal cortex followed hypophysectomy in the rat and that this change could be prevented by intramuscular implantation of rat pituitary glands. Subsequently, in 1933, four groups of investigators471 472 473 474 reported that anterior pituitary extracts could produce adrenocortical hypertrophy in animals. Since that time there has been steady progress in the preparation of highly potent pituitary fractions possessing "trophic" activity with respect to the adrenal cortex.Nature of ACTHThe adrenocorticotrophic activity of pituitary extracts has been assayed principally by three methods, the first being that based on adrenal size . . .
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