Recent Progress in Hormone Research

Abstract

records the recent progress in five areas-(I) Neurohumoral-Endocrine Relationships: (a) serotonin, (b) CNS and metabolic processes, (c) CNS and anterior pituitary function, (d) hormones and rhythms; (II) Hormone Transport in Circulation: (a) thyroid hormones and protein in biological fluids, (b) binding of steroids to human plasma proteins; (III) Aspects of Reproduction: (a) mechanism of ova-implantation in the rat, (b) synthetic progestins and the menstrual cycle, (c) progesterone in pregnancy, (d) long-acting steroids in reproduction; (IV) Hormone Chemistry and Metabolism: (a) insulinase and diabetes mellitus, (b) glucagon; (V) Hormones and Stress: (a) endocrine changes following trauma in man, (b) adrenal influences upon the stomach. The essays on serotonin, central nervous system (CNS), and metabolic processes, CNS and pituitary function, hormones and rhythms, binding of steroids to human plasma proteins, the whole section on reproduction, and the very scholarly treatise on endocrine changes following trauma are of outstanding interest. Udenfriend and his associates conclude that serotonin is an important agent, but it remains to determine exactly where and how it functions. The isolation of both serotonin and norepinephrine in phylogenetically ancient areas of the brain suggests their involvement in the more fundamental functions of the brain. In a previous report, Brodie and Shore suggested that serotonin may be a transmitter substance involved in the stimulation of parasympathetic centers in subcortical areas, or that it may be involved in inhibition of sympathetic centers. Norepinephrine may then be the transmitter substance for central sympathetic impulses. Wooley and his associates also have suggested a possible role for serotonin in the brain. They observed that pulsations of oligodendroglia in tissue culture are enhanced by serotonin and inhibited by LSD. Consequently, Wooley's group suggested that the function of glial cells is to act as "stirring devices" to circulate the fluid in the central nervous system. The role of serotonin would then be one of activating glial motions. It will be recalled that Marrazi and Hart suggested that serotonin is a potent inhibitor of central synaptic transmission. Their studies on the transcallosal pathway of the cat revealed that serotonin may function normally as a humoral inhibitor. Only a few years have lapsed since the isolation and identification of serotonin, but the intense interest in this compound has advanced our knowledge of its biochemistry and pharmacology to such an extent that new leads concerning histamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine have evolved. Anderson's group reported on their numerous experiments and countless …