Diabetogenic Action of Pure Anterior Pituitary Growth Hormone

Abstract

IN this laboratory, investigations designed to purify the diabetogenic principle of ox anterior pituitary tissue, the daily administration of which to the intact dog or cat induces a condition of diabetes mellitus, have been in progress for some time^1-3. Methods involving precipitation in the presence or absence of neutral salts have yielded a potent preparation capable of inducing the appearance of glycosuria in a normal intact cat when administered in a dose of 4 mgm. protein/day (approximately 0.1 mgm. protein N/kgm. body weight/day) over a period of four days (graph a). We have found similar diabetogenic activity to be exhibited both by purified growth hormone prepared in our laboratory by the method of Li, Evans and Simpson⁴ and by the crystalline growth hormone obtained by the ethanol-precipitation method of Wilhelmi, Fishman and Russell⁵ (see graph b). We have also had the opportunity of testing, in the intact adult cat, the diabeto-genic activity of growth hormone prepared according to the method of Li et al⁴ by Dr. C. H. Li of the Institute of Experimental Biology, University of California (to whom we are grateful for his generous gift), and also of crystalline growth hormone prepared in the laboratories of Armour and Co., Chicago, by the method of Wilhelmi et al.⁵. For the gift of the latter preparation we are indebted to Dr. A. E. Wilhelmi, of the Department of Physiological Chemistry, Yale University, and to Dr. I. M. Bunding, of Armour and Co., Chicago. Both preparations were highly diabetogenic in the adult intact cat (graphs c and d), and, doubtless, similar activity can be demonstrated in the intact adult dog, since in our experience the cat and the dog are strictly comparable test animals in such experiments. It will be seen from the graphs that under the conditions of our experiments treatment with growth hormone caused little or no significant change in the body-weight of adult intact cats.