ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE

Abstract

Of six hormones' identified in the ant.erior hypophysis, the adrenocorticotropic hormone is least known.Since the observation of Smith (6), only five publications have appeared (7-11) which give methods that may be used to secure a solution concentrated in adrenocorticotropic activity.No agreement is found among these workers as to the chemical nature of the hormone.In order to establish the biological characteristic of a hormone from a complex source such as the pituitary, it must first be isolated in pure form judged both by chemical and biological data.The present paper presents a method2 for the isolation of the adrenocorticotropic hormone which is freed from other active contaminants, and behaves chemically as a single substance. Method of Isolation