EFFECTS ON THE SUPRARENAL GLANDS 433 



deficiency of vitamin B, there is an atrophy of all the endocrine glands excepting 

 the hypophysis and the suprarenals, which produce more than the usual amount 

 of adrenalin. 



In a series of 200 young chickens, Souba ('23) found that in those on diets 

 deficient in vitamin B (resulting in polyneuritis and loss in body weight) there 

 was no increase in absolute weight of the suprarenals, but a marked increase in 

 relative (percentage) weight. 



Vitamin C. — In infantile scurvy, Jacobsthal ('00) and Schodel and Nauwerk 

 ('00) found no gross or microscopic lesions in the suprarenal glands. In 6 

 necropsies of adult scorbutics, Bierich ('19) found the suprarenals normal in 

 all except one, in which the medulla was enlarged. Aschoff and Koch ('19) 

 noted an increased lipoid content in the suprarenal cortex. Hess ('20) reviewed 

 the literature, indicating that suprarenal hemorrhages frequently occur in 

 human scurvy, but not the enlargement found in experimental scurvy (by 

 McCarrison). 



In experimental scurvy of monkeys, Hart ('12) found the suprarenal glands 

 normal, excepting calcareous granules in the cortex, especially near the 

 junction with the medulla. McCarrison ('i9d, '21) in scorbutic guinea pigs 

 found in the suprarenals (1) congestion and increased weight, doubled in extreme 

 cases; (2) hemorrhagic infiltration of the cortex, especially in the periphery, 

 and cellular degeneration in both cortex and medulla; (3) adrenalin content 

 reduced one-half, in spite of increased size of the gland. Bassett-Smith ('20) 

 found the weight of the suprarenals in scorbutic guinea pigs nearly three times 

 that in normal controls. La Mer and Cambell ('20) similarly found the supra- 

 renal weight approximately doubled, in relation to body weight minus the alimen- 

 tary canal. The increase appeared directly proportional to the length of time 

 on the scorbutic diet. An enlargement of the suprarenals in scorbutic guinea 

 pigs was also noted by Robb, Medes, McClendon and Graham ('21). 



Morikawa ('20) observed the following changes in the suprarenal glands of 

 scorbutic guinea pigs: (1) increased weight; (2) increase in lipoidal content of 

 the cortex; (3) reduction in the amount of doubly refractive fat; (4) poverty 

 of lipoids in the middle portion of the zona fasciculata, with a rich content in 

 the outer and inner portions. 



This distribution of the lipoids in the suprarenal cortex of scorbutic guinea 

 pigs was in general confirmed by Iwabuchi ('22), who claimed, however, a 

 decrease in the total lipoid content. He also described frequent degenerative 

 changes in the middle portion of the zona fasciculata (" Aufquellung des Zellleibs 

 und Pykhose des Kerns ") . Mitoses were also frequently noted. Capillary con- 

 gestion occurred, especially in the zona reticularis, and sometimes hemorrhages. 

 The medullary cells appeared atrophic, and the chromaffin reaction had almost 

 completely disappeared. Rondoni ('22) found the suprarenals greatly enlarged 

 and congested in scorbutic guinea pigs. Peiper ('22) also noted that the supra- 

 renal cortex of guinea pigs at death from scurvy is very deficient in lipoids, which 

 appear in small patches. On recovery from scurvy, after 14 days the outer 

 layer of cortical cells was found saturated with lipoid, from which finger-like 



