EFFECTS ON THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT 399 



Jackson and Carleton ('22, '23) found the ovaries irregular in weight, though 

 rarely atrophic to any marked extent, in albino rats at various stages of experi- 

 mental rickets on various (chiefly phosphorus-poor) diets (Table 11). 



Hatai ('15) found the ovaries 17.4 per cent subnormal in weight in albino 

 rats fed on lipoid-free rations (deficient in fats and vitamin A). Evans and 

 Bishop ('22, '22a, '23) discovered that a dietary deficiency in vitamin A in rats 

 causes an ovarian disturbance resulting in a continuous production and des- 

 quamation of cornified cells by the vaginal mucosa. In spite of the ovarian 

 dysfunction, normal follicles may for a time continue to mature, so that estrus 

 and copulation may occur. Although implantation is normal, there is a reduc- 

 tion in the number born because fewer ova are delivered per ovulation. Repro- 

 ductive failure is thus due to impairment of germ-cell vigor. They find also a 

 distinct "fertility conferring factor X," as will be mentioned in connection with 

 the uterus. 



In young rats on vitamin-free (polished rice) diets, Tsuji ('20) found ovarian 

 atrophy with degeneration of ovules and premature ovulation. Meyerstein 

 ('22) similarly noted atrophy and functional derangement in the ovaries and 

 testes of albino rats on diets of potato or rye flour, deficient in vitamins A and B 

 (as well as in other respects). 



On diets deficient in vitamin B, Funk and Douglas ('14) found evidences of 

 histological degeneration in the ovary and other glands of pigeons. Findlay 

 ('21) noted that in fowls and pigeons with beriberi the ovary atrophies to a 

 lesser extent than does the testis (Table 13). The ovarian follicles appear small 

 and uniform in size, and the nuclei in some of the interstitial cells show degenera- 

 tive changes. Ovarian atrophy in pigeons on a diet deficient in vitamin B was 

 found also by Gotta ('23). 



In experimental scurvy of guinea pigs, Bessesen ('23) found a progressive 

 atrophy of the ovaries, which averaged 19.8 per cent subnormal in weight at 

 death from scurvy (Table 12). 



In a dog on dry diet (aqueous inanition), Pernice and Scagliosi ('95a) 

 found the ovaries and uterus strongly congested, with atrophic, poorly-staining 

 cells. Kudo ('21a), in albino rats held at constant body weight by relatively 

 dry diets for various periods beginning at about 1 month of age, discovered 

 a marked and progressive decrease in the weight of the ovaries (Table 10), 

 amounting to 66.7 per cent below normal in the group on the longest test 

 (9-13 weeks). 



2. THE UTERUS 



In the preceding section, it was mentioned that malnutritional amenorrhea, 

 although concerning the uterus directly, is recognized in most cases as an 

 indirect effect of ovarian (endocrine) disturbance. Observations concerning 

 the occurrence of amenorrhea in connection with famine or similar conditions of 

 malnutrition were cited by Gaspard (1821), Lucas (1826), Slavjansky ('70), 

 Porter ('89), v. Jaworski ('16), Czerwenka ('17), Dietrich ('17), Ekstein ('17), 

 Giesecke ('17), Graefe ('17), Hannes ('17), Hilferding ('17), Pok ('17), 



