Evening star., 1936-03-29
DOCTORS LOCATE
DIABETES CENTER
Biochemists Given Data by
Dr.. Ransom of North
western u.
RY THOMAS r. HENRY.


location of a brain center for a
common disease, diabetes insipidus.
was reported to the Federation OF
American Societies for Experimental
Biology, meeting here yesterday after
noon by DR.. S. w. Ronson OF the
Northwestern University Medical
School.
DR.. Ransom and his co-workers have
found, working with monkeys and cats
: with a relatively new surgical tech
nique, that the disease inevitably fol-
lows destruction of small area known
as the supra optic nuclei in the hypo-
thalamus. a part of the inner brain |
lying below the cerebral cortex.
This section of the hypothalamus is
connected by numerous nerve fibers
with the posterior lobe of the pituitary |
gland. 1t is apparently the starting
point of stimuli which cause this lobe !
to secrete one of its hormones. The |
diabetes insipidus follows when the |
Supra-optic nuclei are left intact when |
either the nerve tract or the posterior |
lobe is destroyed.
Different From Diabetes.
Diabetes insipidus is a quite differ
ent disease from the condition ordi-
narily known as diabetes, which is a
distinction of the carbohydrate meta
boliSm of the body resulting in an abb
normal concentration of blood sugar
and which is treated with insulin, a
secretion from the pancreaS. This
"other form of diabetes is a disturb
M holo
by constant abnormal thirst, accom-
panied by an abnormal excretion of
+ body fluids. The condition may con-
tlnue even for years without seeming
seriously to affect the general health,
but 1t IS quite debilitating and is like
ly to result in various complications
which may prove fatal. One Of these
is the other form of diabetes, diabetes
meelitus.
It already had been determined that
the condition is markedly benefited
by treatment with pitrissin, one of the
anterior pituitary hormones. DR..
Ransom and his associates found that
when the supraoptic nuclei or their
nerve connection with the posterior
pituitary were destroyed the part of
the gland which is believed to secrete
pitreSSin into the blood stream mark
edly degenerates.
Thus, it appears from the present
status of their researches as described
to the physiologists yesterday. this
particular part of the brain sends i'm
pulses to the posterior pituitary. which
responds to them by secretion which
festrains the water output of the
organism.
Anterior Lobe Removal.
However, they found that this con-
dition does not result if the anterior
lobe of the pituitary gland also is re-
moved Apparently one of the hor-
monal secretions from this lobe sacts
/ to increase water secretion, not di-
rectly. but through its general control
over metabolism and acticity Of the
body system.
The primary role played by the
/ hypothalamic nuclei was determined
I through a surgical technique which
made it possible to place small, dis
crete LESSONS at any desired point in
this part of the brain without at the
same time injuring the pituitary gland
itself The gland can be left entirely
| intact, but the diabetes insipidus re-
suits just the same.
The evidence seems quite conclu-
sive, DR.. Ransom reported, that the
only hypothalamic LESSONS that give
rise to a permanent over-excretion OF
body fluid arc those which either de-
Stroy these particular nuclei directly
or interrupt the nerve fibers which
arise from them. Destruction of other
nuclei III the hypothalamus did not
have the same result. Moreover, they
found. both nuceli must be destroyed.
If one is left. or if only one side of
the nerve tract is severed, the condi-
tion does not result.
The psychologists found the disease
Is characterized by two distinct phases
The first is marked by very great in
crease in both water intake and secre-
ton, which lasts for four or five days
Then both return to normal and
nearly two weeks elapses before there
is another increase, marking the start
of the second and permanent phase.
DR. Ransom and his associates believe
the transient phase may be due to
some injury to the pituitary itself, and
that the permanent phase sets in only
after the stored-up supplies of the
anti-diuretic hormone in the poSterior
lobe are exhausted. This may be pro-
.duced according to directions from the
hypothalamus, so that the production
ceases when orders" stop coming
! through.
Action on Kidneys.
The poSterior pituitary hormone in
volved. DR.. Ransom pointed out. prob
ably acts directly on the kidneys and
serves to check their unrestrained &C
4 tivity. When 1t is removed, the abb
normal excretion Immediately follows,
and the intense thirst, causing an alb
normal water intake, results from the
defensive mechanism of the system.
An automatic Self-regulating mech
anism controls the bodys intake of
water, it was indicated by experiments
reported yesterday afternoon before a
symposium on water balance by Dr.
Magnus l. Gregersen of the Medical
School of the University of Maryland
A lowering of the systems water sup
ply DR.. Gregersen said, is reflected
quickly in a lowering of the total
plasma, or liquid content of the blood.
This automatically causes a decrease
of the secretion of saliva from the
salivary glands. This, in turn, causes
thirst
He told of experiments with two
normal subjects who went without wa
ater for three days. The effect was
shown very quickly in the decrease of
plasma, with the resulting salivary