EFFECTS OF ISOLATION OF HYPOTHALAMO-PITUITARY UNIT IN NEWBORN GUINEA PIGS

The medio-basal hypothalamus was deafferented in newborn guinea pigs; the development and functional capacity of the isolated hypothalamo-pituitary unit thus formed was observed and examined 85-90 days post-operativel. Growth and gonadal function were most seriously impaired; development of thyroid and adrenal function was unaffected in male animals and only moderately affected in females. The results indicate that those RF-producing neurones associated with growth hormone and the gonadotrophins may require afferent neural connections for their normal maturation, while RF-producing neurones associated with thyrotrophin and corticotrophin may develop normally in the isolated hypothalamo-pituitary unit. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.