[The early history of the negative feedback of estrogens on gonadotropins of the anterior hypophysis. The priority dispute between Dorothy Price and Walter Hohlweg. A contribution to self-deception in scientific priority claims]. / Zur Frühgeschichte des negativen Feedbacks der Ostrogene auf die Gonadotropine des Hypophysenvorderlappens. Der Prioritätsstreit zwischen Dorothy Price und Walter Hohlweg. Ein Beitrag zur Frage der Selbsttäuschung bei wissenschaftlichen Prioritätsansprüchen.

From printed manuscripts of lectures held in August 1930 in London, we learn, that Carl R. Moore and Dorothy Price from Chicago, as well as Max Dohrn and Walter Hohlweg from Berlin, deduced, from different experiments, a negative feedback of oestrogens on the gonadotropic function of the anterior pituitary and--in general--a kybernetic system between pituitary and ovary. In 1975, both Price and Hohlweg claimed to be the discoverer of that system. A historical analysis reveals, that these priority claims are open to doubt.

[The young Rudolf Virchow and the Society of Obstetrics in Berlin 1846-1848]. / Der junge Rudolf Virchow und die Gesellschaft für Geburtshülfe in Berlin in den Jahren 1846 bis 1848.

Between 1846 and 1848, the young Rudolf Virchow, prosector of the Charité in Berlin, actively participated in the sessions of the Berlin Obstetrical Society, founded in 1844 by Carl Mayer, his future father-in-law. Virchow presented papers on uterine prolapse, uric acid kidney-infarction of newborns, ovarian myxoid cystoma, and the puerperal state, to mention only the more important contributions. In 1847, Virchow became an extraordinary member of the Society. By introducing obstetricians (who also were gynecologists) to modern thinking in natural science, he was the scientific motor of that Society, so to speak. The March-revolution in 1848, in which he participated, interrupted these scientific activities. In 1849, the officials of the Society tried in vain to prevent Virchow from accepting the call to the chair of pathological anatomy at the University of Würzburg.

[Bilateral oophorectomy in the woman in late 19th century. Methodological value of castration for discovery of ovarian hormones]. / Bilaterale Oophorektomie der Frau im späten 19. Jahrhundert. Zum methodologischen Wert der Kastration für die Entdekkung ovarieller Hormone.

In 1872, the castration of women was introduced as a therapeutic procedure. The ovaries were mainly removed because of nervous and mental diseases, uterine fibromyomata with menorrhagia, osteomalacia and carcinoma of the breast. These partially successful operations led to various hypotheses on the mechanism of ovarian action. It was only in 1895 that the cessation of hormonal production was assumed to be responsible for the effects of ovarian removal. The hypothesis of an internal secretion of the ovaries was eventually clearly supported by animal experiments around 1900.

[On the beginnings of hormonal contraception (author's transl)]. / Zur Geschichte der hormonalen Empfängnisverhütung

The possibility of hormonal contraception was postulated as early as 1919 by the physiologist Ludwig Haberlandt in Innsbruck. The same year, he began to test his hypothesis in animal experiments. In 1924 he succeeded in his efforts to render mice infertil by orally administering ovarian and placental extracts. He failed to have his method tried in women.

Daily serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and plasma testosterone and androstenedione in hirsute women with polycystic sclerotic ovaries: effects of diethylstilbestrol and norethindrone acetats.

PIP: Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma plasma testosterone and androstenedione, were determined daily in 5 women with mild to hirsutism and polycystic sclerotic ovaries, and in 2 normal controls. Blood was sampled daily for 10 days before and 10 days during administration of diethylstilbestrol 3 mg daily or norethindrone acetate 5 mg daily, during Cycle Days 2-12 in controls. FSH was significantly (p = .05 or less) decreased in 4 patients by diethylstilbestrol, and in the vehicle for serum triglyceride, pre-beta lipoprotein, was not significantly elevated in any subjects. Though the mechanism of these pills' effect on serum lipids is not known, although it appeared to increase in 4 patients and 1 control during stimulation. must produce caution in evaluating long-term oral contraceptive administration.^ieng