[Experimental neuroendocrinology]

A short review of the history of experimental neuroendocrinology is given. The influence of light on the endocrine system, hypothalamic regulation of the adenohypophysis and neurosecretion are discussed. At the IIIrd Medical Dept.-under influence of professor Charvát-I first studied the influence of light (following the findings of Rowan, Scharrer, Benoit and others). After the Harris' discovery that the hypophysial portal system serves for transport of hypothalamic hypophysiotropic factors I relatively early (1949) started to study the hypothalamic extracts, aiming to demonstrate the existence of these factors, the regulating hormones (RH) of today. Our successful attempt to demonstrate TRH (1961) as well the unsuccessful attempt do achieve its chemical constitution are described. Thereafter we studied the mechanisms of adenohypophyseal growth: estrogen-induced adenohypophyseal hypertrophy is inhibited by testosterone, thyroxine and dopaminergic agonists, it is potentiated by dopaminergic antagonists. An inhibitory action is displayed also by methylene blue. There is a correlation between the blood ceruloplasmin (polyphenoloxidase) level and growth of the adenohypophysis after estrogens: methylene blue inhibits both reactions. Finally, we codiscovered the endogenous digitalis-like activity and first demonstrated its origin in the adrenals; we also obtained the preliminary evidence for the existence of quinidine-like endogenous factor.