Sugar Content of the Hormones of the Pituitary Anterior Lobe and of the Gonadotropic Hormone from Pregnancy Urine

Abstract

DURING our investigation of the active principles of the pituitary anterior lobe and of the gonadotropic hormone from pregnancy urine, we established the fact that the gonad-stimulating factors of the anterior lobe and, more particularly, prolan from pregnancy urine, contain considerable quantities of carbohydrate, even when in a highly purified state. This carbohydrate could not be removed, nor its percentage decreased, by treatment with weak alkalis or by prolonged and repeated dialysis. Such properties seem to indicate the presence of glycoproteins in the gonadotropic protein factors. The sugar may be combined with the protein in the form of a poly-saccharide. The nature and quantity of the basic carbohydrate was determined by means of the orcine-sulphuric acid reaction. The gonadotropic factors of the pituitary anterior lobe contain 6 per cent (maximum value) of mannose ; prolan obtained from pregnancy urine contains 19 per cent (maximum value) of mannose ; or possibly of galactose, or of both these hexoses (the preparations have not yet been tested for hexosamine).