The action of human chorionic gonadotrophin on mice was inhibited by small amounts of serum (1\m=.\8c.c.) and cerebro-spinal fluid (0\m=.\6ml.) from thirty-one out of forty-two mentally and physically retarded male patients aged 8\p=n-\16 yr. Serum from some of these patients also inhibited the action of thyrotrophic hormone in mice and of corticotrophin in rats. Small (1\m=.\8ml.) amounts of serum of three out of fifteen mentally normal subjects of the same age range inhibited the action of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG).The serum of four healthy adult men had no inhibitory activity. However, the serum of the parents of two morons, whose serum was inhibitory, also inhibited the action of HCG.The inhibition of gonadotrophic activity by the serum and cerebro-spinal fluid was similar to the action of protein-free pineal extracts.

The growth rates of a series of physically and mentally retarded male patients aged 7½ – 13½ years were studied before, during, and after treatment with human chorionic gonadotrophin. HCG was given for two to seven months and a final check was made one to three years after treatment stopped. The rate of growth of the patients was considerably increased during treatment, frequently exceeding that seen during a normal pubertal growth spurt. Although the growth rate decreased after treatment stopped, it remained above the pre-treatment level. No evidence of premature epiphyseal closure was seen. The majority of the patients achieved a higher height and weight percentile. Changes in blood alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus and calcium were measured and were similar to those seen after treatment with human growth hormone. The acute effect of an injection of HCG on plasma non-esterified fatty acids was different from that reported for human growth hormone since no change was seen in the rise of free fatty acids during fasting. It is assumed that treatment with HCG triggers the endogenous production of steroids which, in their turn, stimulate pituitary anterior lobe activity.

The interrelation of urinary and plasma human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) inhibitors and the urinary excretion rate of gonadotrophin was studied in ten physically and mentally retarded young males.It was found that the HCG-inhibitory principles had no effect when assayed against the boys' own urinary gonadotrophins.The excretion rate of urinary gonadotrophin was found to be independent of the presence of urinary or plasma HCG-inhibitors, which in turn were not related to the boys' physical development.Certain similarities between the properties of the plasma and urinary HCG-inhibitor and deproteinized pineal extracts are discussed.

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