360 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



(B) Effects of Partial Inanition on the Salivary Glands 



Only a few data are available as to the effects of partial inanition upon the 

 salivary glands. In malnutritional edema and similar disorders (ascribed 

 chiefly to protein deficiency, for reasons given in Chapter V), Lubarsch ('21) 

 mentioned hemosiderin deposits in the epithelial cells of the salivary and other 

 glands. 



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

 atrophy of the parotid alveoli in severe cases only. In the submaxillary gland, 

 the serous portion showed degenerative atrophy of the ducts and alveoli, 

 while the mucous portion was unaffected. 



McCarrison ('21) in deficiently fed monkeys noted a marked loss (20-30 

 per cent) in the weight of the submaxillary glands, which occurred in animals 

 becoming emaciated on diets variously deficient in protein, vitamins, etc. 

 McCarrison remarks that probably this atrophy involves some impairment of 

 function, and cites the observation by Sullivan and Jones (Publ. Health Rep., 

 1919, 34:1068) that the saliva of pellagrins has a peculiar ropy consistency. 



Hojer ('24) finds in guinea pig scurvy an early atrophy of the salivary 

 glands (confirming Toverud). Both mucous and serous alveoli are affected. 



During thirst, the salivary glands are subjected to an unusual strain, in 

 order to secrete sufficient saliva to prevent drying of the oral mucosa. In a 

 dog on dry food with loss of 20.7 per cent in body weight, Falck and Scheffer 

 ('54) observed an apparent loss of 33.7 per cent in the weight of the salivary 

 glands. 



In adult albino rats on a dry diet, Kudo ('21) found in the acute thirst series 

 (with loss of 36.1 per cent in body weight) a loss of 57.6 per cent in the parotid 

 glands, and of 47.1 per cent in the submaxillary glands. In the chronic thirst 

 series (with loss of 52.4 per cent in body weight), the parotid glands showed a loss 

 of 69.7 per cent, and the submaxillary glands a loss of 64.5 per cent. In a 

 rat on total inanition (with loss of 47.2 per cent in body weight), the parotid 

 glands showed an apparent loss of 67.6 per cent, and the submaxillary glands a 

 loss of 63.3 per cent (Table 9). 



In a series of young albino rats held at constant body weight by relatively 

 dry diet for various periods, beginning at about 4 weeks of age, Kudo ('21a) noted 

 that the parotid glands within 1-2 weeks showed an average decrease of 47.6 

 per cent. For longer periods the loss remained about the same. In the sub- 

 maxillary glands, a similar loss was apparent, excepting the first group, where 

 it was somewhat less (Table 10) . It would therefore appear that during aqueous 

 inanition the salivary glands do not show the persistent growth tendency found 

 in the liver, pancreas and various other organs. 



