Open AccessExperimental pituitary basophilism
Author(s) -
Kenneth W. Thompson,
Harvey Cushing
Publication year - 1934
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series b, containing papers of a biological character
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2053-9185
pISSN - 0950-1193
DOI - 10.1098/rspb.1934.0030
Subject(s) - acromegaly , basophilic , gigantism , pituitary tumors , pituitary gland , pituitary adenoma , adenoma , medicine , hormone , endocrinology , growth hormone , pathology
The dual purposes of this study were: (1) to determine whether prolonged injections of the pituitary gonadotropic hormone would reproduce in animals any semblance of the malady as “pituitary basophilism”; and (2) thereby to throw further light on whether the basophilic elements of the pituitary body are actually the source of this hormone, as has long been assumed though without wholly conclusive proof. Briefly stated, clinical gigantism and acromegaly are associated with adenomas composed of acidophilic cells of the pars distalis and these disorders may therefore be regarded as states produced by “pituitary acidophilism.” Another more recently described clinical syndrome (Cushing, 1932) is associated with an actively secreting adenoma composed of basophilic elements, this condition in contrast having been conveniently termed “pituitary basophilism.”