Effects of hypophysectomy and substitution with growth hormone, prolactin, and thyroxine on growth and deposition in juvenile frogs, Xenopus laevis.

Growth was studied in young metamorphosed frogs, Xenopus laevis, following hypophysectomy and substitution with mammalian growth hormone (bGH or pGH), mammalian prolactin (oPRL), and thyroxine. Hypophysectomy reduced growth (weight and length increase). GH and PRL proved equally efficient in restoring growth and in mobilizing energy stores (fat bodies and liver glycogen). No synergistic effects between GH and PRL could be observed. GH exerted its growth-promoting effects by increasing gross food conversion efficiency (weight increase/food intake), but did not stimulate appetite. Moderate GH doses given to a group of frogs in growth stagnation exerted moderate metabolic effects, and may have stimulated appetite in some animals, but did not increase body size significantly. Thyroxine was unable to promote growth, but increased mobilization of energy stores. Hypophysectomy and hormone substitution affected feeding behavior. The nature of the actions of pituitary somatotropic hormones and of thyroxine on growth and deposition is discussed.