Influence of Adenohypophysectomy on the Transfer of Salt Across the Frog Skin

It is well known that the isolated skin of the frog is able to transport salt from its outside to the inside when bathed with frog Ringer on both sides1. In view of the fact that cortical hormones play an important part in the reabsorption of sodium chloride in the kidney, an investigation was made to learn whether the skin of hypophysectomized frogs, in which cortical secretion presumably is considerably decreased, is still able actively to transport salt. In specimens of Rana temporaria the adenohypophysis was removed, and the animals, together with un-operated controls, were kept without food in water at 10°-15° C. Three operated animals, two males and one female, of healthy appearance, were used in the experiments. The operations were carried out in November. The secretion of the skin of the operated frogs was very markedly reduced. This effect of hypophysectomy on the toad has already been described by Aubrun2.