The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of secretion of the pituitary-adrenal system by studying some factors which modify the response of these glands to stress. Two such factors were considered: (a) exogenous cortical hormone (represented by desoxycorticosterone) and (b) dietary protein. Both these agents had been previously studied by other investigators, but it was thought of interest to investigate them further because some of the results reported were contradictory.

In 1889, Brown-Séquard reported an astonishing degree of physical rejuvenation from self-administered subcutaneous injections of an extract of dog testes. Although he attributed his sense of "well-being" to a substance present in this testicular extract, this conclusion was completely erroneous in the light of subsequent investigations. Nevertheless, Brown-Sequard described the process of his alleged rejuvenation so convincingly, that there resulted a great stimulation of research in this field of study. Thus was furnished the impetus that led to the development of endocrinology.

More than two centuries have elapsed since the first isolation of cholesterol, yet its structure was elucidated only twenty-two years ago and its total synthesis was achieved in 1951. The first steroid hormone to be isolated in pure state was estrone in 1929. Within a short period of time the various sex hormones, estrogens, androgens and progestins were isolated, characterized and synthesized. The compounds elaborated by the adrenal cortex were the last type of steroid hormones to be investigated. Experiments initiated in 1935 led to the isolation and characterization of twenty-eight crystalline steroids, six of which exhibit activity in prolonging the life of adrenalectomized animals.

The fertilized hen's egg consists of shell, shell membrane, albumen and yolk. A diagrammatic representation of the fertilized hen's egg and its constituents is given on page 2. From this it may be seen that the yolk floats in the albumen with a whitish disc, the blastoderm, on its upper surface. It is from the blastoderm that the embryo and all its membranes are formed. [...]

The beginning of our knowledge of the enzyme lactic dehydrogenase, dates back to Otto Meyerhof's discovery (1) in 1919, that washed muscle preparations can oxidise lactic acid. The enzyme was obtained in soluble form by Stephenson (2) in 1928, from cultures of E. coli, and Bernheim (3) prepared a similar extract from yeast and identified pyruvic acid as the product of the reaction. [...]

Proteins are indispensable in living matter. If compared with all other known substances of living organisms, the proteins occupy the largest space and mass, have the widest distribution and most complicated structure, and show the greatest variability in function. They are the main constituants of every cell. The cell sap and more solid structures, as the cell, nuclear and mitochondrial membranes, are mainly ccmposed of proteins and, to a large extent, they impose their physico-chemical properties on these structures. [...]

It was appreciated at the beginning of this project that any real advancement in the technique of blood preservation would likely come from an understanding of the energy metabolism of the red blood cell (erythrocyte or normocyte). Until about twenty-five years ago this cell was regarded as being little more than a parcel of hemoglobin. Lacking a nucleus and other common cell components, it was regarded as merely a transporter of oxygen and carbon dioxide. [...]

Silicon is the second member of Group IV of the periodic table and is related chemically to carbon, the first member of this group. It occupies a central position in inorganic nature as carbon does in organic nature. Granite, gneiss, meteors, and rocks in general contain silicon; of all the geologic formations, only calcite and dolomite do not contain a substantial proportion of this element. Silicon presents many analogies with carbon.

Ever since the anesthetic and analgesic properties of nitrous oxide were discovered, the question of how nitrous oxide produces these effects has constantly arisen. Some workers claim that, since nitrous oxide is an inert and nontoxic gas, it does not influence the metabolic processes of body tissues. Others, however, feel that the anesthetic powers of nitrous oxide are either attributable to or accompanied by, inhibitory effects on the oxidative processes of the nervous system. This study was undertaken with the view to finding out if nitrous oxide directly affects the metabolic mechanism of the tissue cells, and if so which enzyme systems are most sensitive to its action.

With the outbreak of World War II, work was initiated in the Department ot Biochemistry at McGill University, at the request of the National Research Council, under the direction of Dr. O. F. Denstedt, with the express aim of improving the existing methods of blood preservation. Because of the great importance of maintaining a supply of blood for the treatment of battle and civilian casualties, researches on blood preservation were carried out not only in this laboratory, but in many others throughout the world.