THE IN VITRO METABOLISM OF MAMMARY GLAND SLICES IN THE PRESENCE OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY LOBE EXTRACTS RICH IN MELANOPHORE-DISPERSING ACTIVITY
SUMMARY Slices cut from mammary glands of rats and mice during gestation and lactation were incubated in vitro in the presence of pig posterior pituitary lobe extracts rich in melanophore-dispersing ('B') activity. Slices taken in early lactation but not during gestation or late lactation showed increased net gas evolution compared with control slices. Similar tissue from rabbits and guinea-pigs did not give rise to this effect, nor did slices of other tissues taken from lactating rats. The increased net gas evolution was not observed in the absence of glucose from the incubation medium. Treatment of the 'B' extract with NaOH or hypophysectomy of the rats prior to use decreased the response.