GB428419A - Improvements in the preparation of hormones - Google Patents

Abstract

The process described in the parent Specification for preparing the thyreotropic and gonadotropic hormones of the anterior hypophysis is modified by using strongly acid substances, such as picric, sulphosalicylic, trichloracetic or picrolonic acids, to precipitate the thyreotropic hormone, dissolving the precipitate in ammonia or alkali hydroxide, and reprecipitating the hormone by the addition of a large quantity of acetone or of a mixture of alcohol with ether or other lipoid solvent. The mother liquors from the first precipitation may be concentrated in vacuo, the precipitating acid removed in any known manner, and the gonadotropic hormone recovered by salting out. According to one example fresh ground anterior lobes of hypophysis are shaken with kieselguhr in dilute sodium bicarbonate solution, the mixture is filtered and aqueous picric acid solution is added to the filtrate. The precipitate is suspended in water, dissolved by the addition of ammonia, and the hormone precipitated by the addition of acetone. Extracts or press juices of fresh hypophyses, or dry powdered fat-free hypophysis may be used as starting material. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 refers also to the use, as precipitants, of heavy metal salts, such as lead acetate, silver nitrate or mercuric chloride, or of colloids, such as ferric hydroxide, alumina, or aluminium hydroxide produced by exposing aluminium amalgam to moist air. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.