Abstract
THE experimental studies of Jost1 and Hwang and Wells2 have demonstrated the functional interrelationship of the pituitary and thyroid in the rabbit and rat fœtus. Rumph and Smith3 showed that the thyroid of the 90-mm. pig fœtus contains a substance which would induce metamorphosis in the hypophysectomized tadpole. Geloso4 demonstrated the presence of thyroid hormones in the blood of the rat fœtus. Jost and Picon5 showed that fœtal thyroidectomy resulted in an increase in total body fat in the rabbit fœtus. Bearn6 found an increase in liver fat following hypophysectomy by decapitation in the rabbit fœtus, and correlated this with the increase in the fat content noted in human anencephalic fœtuses. These experiments can be taken to indicate that the fœtal thyroid is capable of function, and that its function is regulated by the fœtal pituitary.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Jost, A., Arch. Anat. micr. morphol. exp., 42, 168 (1953).
Hwang, U. K., and Wells, L. J., Anat. Rec., 134, 125 (1959).
Rumph, P., and Smith, P. E., Anat. Rec., 33, 289 (1926).
Geloso, J. P., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 246, 168 (1958).
Jost, A., and Picon, L., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 246, 1281 (1958).
Bearn, J. G., Nature, 185, 849 (1960).
Epstein, A. A., and Lande, H., Arch. Int. Med., 30, 563 (1922).
Hess, J. H., Ann. Int. Med., 8, 607 (1934).
Jost, A., Arch. Anat. micr. morphol. exp., 40, 247 (1951).
Abell, L., Levy, B. B., Brodie, B. B., and Kendall, F. E., J. Biol. Chem., 195, 357 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BEARN, J., KOERSELMAN, H. & PILKINGTON, T. Function of the Hypophysis-Thyroid System in the Rabbit Fœtus with Regard to Cholesterol Metabolism. Nature 189, 318 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/189318a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/189318a0
This article is cited by
-
Effect of Total Thyroidectomy in the Rabbit Fœtus on Fœtal Cholesterol Metabolism
Nature (1963)
-
Hormonal Control of the Metabolism of Cholesterol in the Rabbit Fœtus
Nature (1963)
-
Function of the Fœtal Thyroid of the Rabbit with regard to Cholesterol Metabolism studied by Fœtal Thyroidectomy
Nature (1961)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.