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THE INFLUENCE OF CORPUS LUTEUM EXTRACTS UPON PLAIN MUSCLE, ESPECIALLY THAT OF THE UTERUS
Author(s) -
Itagaki M.,
Taylor W. W.
Publication year - 1917
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0370-2901
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1917.sp000233
Subject(s) - corpus luteum , uterus , medicine , endocrinology , circular muscle , chemistry , contraction (grammar) , pregnancy , estrous cycle , biology , smooth muscle , ovary , genetics
1. Extract of corpus luteum generally produces a distinct increase of tone in the surviving uterus of the rat, rabbit, cat, dog, and guinea‐pig. Rarely, however, the opposite effect is produced. 2. This difference of effect is not due to the condition of pregnancy or non‐pregnancy, nor to varying strengths of the extract, but apparently to a difference in different samples of corpus luteum. It would appear, therefore, that there are two principles in the corpus luteum having an antagonistic action upon the contractions of the uterus. 3. These principles can sometimes be separated by alcohol, the inhibitory material going into alcoholic solution. But this chalonic substance (17), which is soluble in water, is very small in amount. The hormonic substance, on the other hand, which is generally much larger in amount, is not soluble in alcohol nor in chloroform and ether, but is soluble in water. 4. If we compare the action of corpus luteum extract upon the uterus with its effect upon other forms of plain muscular tissue, we find that it generally produces relaxation of the muscular tissue of the intestine and of the bladder of the rat, but contraction of the whole intestinal tube of the rabbit and kitten; although, when isolated strips of either the longitudinal or circular intestinal muscle of these animals were taken, they showed relaxation. Upon the iris of the frog no change could be observed. 5. Injection of corpus luteum extract into a vein produces but little effect upon the blood‐pressure; if anything, there is a slight fall. 6. A free secretion of milk is caused from the cut nipple of a lactating animal. 7. Urinary secretion is not appreciably affected. 8. I have been unable to obtain any definite proof that the action of corpus luteum upon the uterus is effected through the nerve‐endings either of the sympathetic or of the pelvic nerve. The expenses of this investigation and of those described in the two succeeding papers have been assisted by grants from the Carnegie and Moray Research Funds.