ABSTRACT
By using enzymes, the gonadotrophic factors in the skipper-frog pituitary glands have been selectively inactivated or destroyed. By incubating a known number of pituitary gland homogenate with ptyalin in a constant temperature bath for 5–6 h the follicle-stimulating factor is inactivated; with trypsin or pepsin, the luteinizing factor is inactivated. Bioassay on gravid skipper-frogs indicate that the ptyalin digested homogenate brings about profuse spawning while the trypsin or pepsin digested homogenates do not. When a combination of ptyalin digested and trypsin digested homogenates is injected into fresh gravid skipper-frogs, poor spawning is brought about. These experiments show that the luteinizing factor alone brings about more profuse spawning than when it is combined with the follicle-stimulating factor. It is likely, therefore, that in the lower vertebrates the luteinizing factor of the pituitary gland plays a more predominant role. The exact proportions in which the different dosages for the control and test animals are administered are also tabulated.
Auditory selectivity for the acoustic properties of conspecific mate-attracting signals in lower vertebrates and songbirds
