EFFECTS ON THE LIVER 34 1 



rabbits, Okuneff ('23) describes simple atrophy of the liver-cells, with later 

 degenerative changes in the mitochondria (chondriosomes). As shown by a 

 modified Altmann technique, these "ihre Form, Grosse und Farbbarkeit ver- 

 andern und sich in voluminose, runde, stark tingierte Gebilde resp. Tropfen 

 umwandeln,die sich weiter zu Blaschenumgestaltenkonnen." Jolly ('24) found 

 a loss of 10 per cent in the nuclear area of underfed rabbits and guinea pigs. 



Rous and McMaster ('24) noted, in accordance with previous observers, 

 that in adult albino rats on water only there is a marked atrophy of the liver. 

 The atrophy of the cell cords increases toward the center of the lobules, with 

 correspondingly greater distension of the blood capillaries near the central 

 veins. "In rats fasted after the removal of about seven-tenths of the liver 

 the remaining fragment undergoes ordinarily a marked simple hypertrophy 

 and attains the weight reached through a process of simple atrophy by the 

 entire liver of fasting controls. Under circumstances of exceptionally severe 

 inanition, the hypertrophy may not occur, the fragment remaining unchanged 

 or even undergoing a slight atrophy. But since in comparable controls the 

 hepatic atrophy is extreme, the duplication in liver weights still manifests 

 itself." These results (which are in agreement with those of Davis, Hall and 

 Whipple above mentioned) are interpreted as indicating an adjustment of the 

 liver to meet the functional requirement of the fasting organism. 



Ott ('24) found that in frogs during hibernation and subsequent inanition 

 with losses in body weight from 10 to 60 per cent, the liver weight varied some- 

 what in the two sexes, but was always relatively greater than the loss in body 

 weight (Table 6). 



During hibernation, some of the changes in the liver-cells have already 

 been mentioned incidentally. Further data are contained in the works of 

 Langley ('82, '86) for the frog, toad and snake; also Langendorff ('86), Leonard 

 ('87), Moszeik ('88) and Altmann ('90) for the frog; Carlier ('92) for the 

 hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus); Gaule ('01) and Athanasiu and Dragoin ('08) 

 for the frog; Berg ('14a, '22) for the salamander; and Ott ('24) for the frog. 

 There are marked seasonal changes in the liver of hibernating animals, fat 

 and glycogen being gradually deposited in the feeding period during the summer, 

 and slowly consumed during hibernation, accompanied by variable atrophy and 

 histological changes in the liver. 



(B) Effects of Partial Inanition 



The effects of partial inanition will be considered under deficiencies of 

 protein (including pellagra and malnutritional edema), salts (including rickets), 

 vitamins (including beriberi and scurvy) and water (thirst). 



Under protein deficiency, though involving also salts, vitamins, etc., we may 

 classify the experiments of B riming ('14), who noted fatty degeneration of the 

 liver-cells in young rats whose growth in body weight was prevented by a one- 

 sided carbohydrate diet. McCarrison's experiments (to be mentioned later 

 under vitamins) also involved protein deficiencies. Rosenheim ('91) found 

 hepatic enlargement and fatty metamorphosis in a dog on protein-poor diet. 



For reasons stated in Chapter V, the malnutritional edema frequently 

 observed during war famine and similar conditions has also been classified as 



