This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by CALLOWAY, N. O. Articles by GEILING, E. M. K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by CALLOWAY, N. O. Articles by GEILING, E. M. K.

STUDIES ON THE CHEMISTRY OF THE MELANOPHORE HORMONE OF THE PITUITARY GLAND II. THE EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION ON POTENTIATION¹

From the Department of Pharmacology, University of Chicago CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Abstract

MOST OF THE PRINCIPLES of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland are destroyed at lowered hydrogen ion concentrations (1). However, the melanophore hormone of the pituitary gland is not only stable at the higher pH ranges but is actually enhanced in its activity (2). This unusual property has been studied from various angles by many investigators (3).

While studying the general behavior of the hormone, we found it necessary toobserve the effects of various hydrogen ion concentrations. These observations arereported in this paper.

We have also utilised this information in interpreting the possible nature of the potentiation phenomenon, which is a most unusual and intriguing property of this hormone.

The methods used were in general the same as those described in the preceding paper (4). The pH was measured by electrometric methods using a glass electrode and correcting for the variations at higher pH values with a hydrogen electrode.

Footnotes

¹ This investigation was supported by a grant from the Committee on Research in Endocrinology, National Research Council.

Received December 29, 1941.