Partial inhibition of oestrogen-induced adenohypophyseal growth by silver nitrate.

The administration of silver nitrate to rats in their food (10 mg/rat/day) led to the rapid disappearance of serum polyphenol oxidase activity. After 60 days silver nitrate treatment produced a decrease of adenohypophyseal weight. If given over a period of 40--60 days it also partially inhibited the adenohypophyseal response to oestradiol (a weight decrease and raised thyroxine binding by adenohypophyseal proteins in vitro). The mechanism by which silver nitrate diminishes basal and oestrogen-increased adenohypophyseal weight remains unknown.