EFFECTS ON THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT 



405 



weight. Krieger ('20), however, found the loss in testis weight fully as great 

 relatively as the loss in body weight in various cachexias (assuming the normal at 

 46 g., which is slightly less than Vierordt's norm of 0.08 per cent of the 

 initial body weight), as shown by the accompanying table. 



Weight of the Testes in Emaciated Men (Krieger '20) 



Krieger also noted that the prostate very often appeared unusually small (24 

 cases); while in 14 cases it was of medium size, and in 7 cases presented "Pros- 

 tatahypertrophie im Alter." 



The atrophy of the testis during inanition may explain the marked sexual 

 depression observed by Miles ('19) and Benedict, Miles, Roth and Smith ('19) 

 in 25 healthy young men on a reduced diet (two-thirds to one-half of the normal 

 calory requirement) with loss of about 10 per cent in body weight in 2 months. 



Rubner ('19) stated that as a result of the unfavorable nutritional conditions 

 in Germany, libido sexualis was decreased in the male. He thought this might 

 be associated with the extreme atrophy of the testes noted in malnourished men 

 on the Eastern front. Spermatogenesis was also found much diminished. 

 Impotence was noted by Abel ('23) as characteristic in the Russian famine. 



During inanition in infancy, a few data are available. Ohlmuller ('82) 

 observed a weight of 2.28 g. in the testes of an atrophic infant of 8 weeks 

 (body weight 2,381 g.), while in a well nourished control of the same age 

 (body weight 4,150 g.) the testes weighed 2.50 g. This would indicate 

 but slight loss, possibly even a persistent gain in weight, depending upon the 

 (unknown) previous body weight of the atrophic infant. 



Simmonds ('13, '21) stated that before puberty the testis may be retarded 

 in development during tuberculosis, late rickets, or similar conditions of mal- 

 nutrition. The seminiferous epithelium and stroma may become pigmented, 

 especially in atrophic nurslings. 



Mattei ('14) gave weights for the testes in atrophic infants, indicating 

 considerable variation. He concluded, however, that there is usually but 

 slight change in size or appearance. Microscopically, the seminiferous epi- 

 thelium appeared normal, but the blood vessels usually appeared congested, 

 and the tunica albuginea and connective tissue stroma slightly thickened. The 

 interstitial cells sometimes appeared pigmented, sometimes they showed atrophic 

 cytoplasm. "II y a en somme atrophie et dystrophic legere de la glande inter- 

 stitielle du testicule." 



