[The adiposogenital distrophy or Frohlich syndrome and the beginning of the concept of neuroendocrinology]

Abstract

A century has passed since Harvey Cushing presented a syndrome characterized by obesity and sexual infantilism, caused by a tumour located in the base of the brain, and named it as Adiposogenital dystrophy or Frohlich's syndrome, on the name of its discoverer. Further study of this syndrome contributed to establish the hormonal connection between the brain and the anterior pituitary, and then the concept of neuroendocrinology.