HORMONAL HYPERTENSION RESULTING FROM PITUITARY IMBALANCE,

The removal of the posterior part of the pituitary gland in the rat leads to an elevation in blood pressure. The production of an anterior-posterior pituitary imbalance in hypophysectomized animals by the administration of certain hormones of target glands influenced by the anterior pituitary thyroxine, testosterone, cortisone TTC also produces an increase in mean arterial blood pressure. In the intact animal, too, the administration of the hormones of the target organs TTC will lead to an elevation of blood pressure, and 1 week after the cessation of this treatment the blood pressure is as high or higher than at the end of the administration period. Administration of anterior pituitary hormones TSH, LH, and ACTH both in hypophysectomized and in intact rats also produced elevations in blood pressure. It is concluded that an imbalance between the influences of the anterior and posterior parts of the pituitary gland can lead to a significant elevation in blood pressure.