Pitressin-inhibiting Substance in the Serum of a Patient with Transient Diabetes Insipidus

EVIDENCE THAT DIABETES INSIPIDUS is dependent upon a deficiency of secretion by the posterior d lobe of the pituitary gland may be summarised as follows: a) the symptoms of diabetes insipidus, polyuria and polydipsia, may be relieved by the injection of posterior lobe substance, pitressin; b) in animals, diabetes insipidus may be produced by operative removal of or injury to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and its connections (1). The role of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is less clearly understood. However, its presence is essential to the development of experimental diabetes insipidus following the removal of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. This is evidenced by the fact that the syndrome of diabetes insipidus does not appear after complete hypophysectomy. Fisher, Ingram and Ransom (1) suggest that the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland may secrete a diuretic hormone which normally is balanced by the antidiuretic hormone of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. If the action of such a diuretic hormone of the anterior pituitary is inadequately opposed, it might be considered to cause diabetes insipidus. Under this concept, diabetes insipidus might be thought to depend upon the relative ratio between the hormones of the anterior and posterior hypophysis, rather than upon the absolute level of either.