EFFECTS ON THE URINARY TRACT 377 



In starved rabbits, Mankowski ('82) observed that the kidneys appeared 

 anemic, and Skoritschenko ('83) determined the changes in water content. 

 Ochotin ('85, '85a, '86) studied the histological changes in rabbits with variable 

 losses in body weight. In the extreme group, with body loss of 30-36 per 

 cent, the kidney tubules showed marked degeneration, but unequally in different 

 tubules. In some tubules, the epithelium appeared normal; in others the 

 cells showed cloudy swelling, granular degeneration or fat droplets. The 

 nuclei were variable in appearance. The Malpighian corpuscles were hyper- 

 emic. The connective tissue in places showed slight proliferation; the endo- 

 thelium was entirely normal. In a rabbit with loss of only 4 per cent in body 

 weight, the kidneys were normal. At loss of 10 per cent in body weight, renal 

 degenerative changes appeared and became progressively more marked and 

 frequent in the subsequent groups. 



Isaew ('87) observed parenchymatous degeneration in the kidney of starved 

 dogs. 



Morpurgo ('89, '89a) in starved rabbits of various ages (15 days to adult) 

 found mitoses reduced in number in the youngest rabbit, and entirely suppressed 

 in the others. In rabbits refed after a period of inanition, however, the mitoses 

 reappeared in great abundance in both cortex and medulla. In a pigeon dead 

 after 17 days of inanition, Morpurgo ('89b) found the average diameter of the 

 renal convoluted tubules reduced from 28.31 to 24.13/i; and the height of the 

 epithelial cells from 9.92 to 9.07^. The nuclei were but slightly decreased 

 in average diameter, from 5.81^ to 5.63/x. 



In rabbits 6-18 months of age, Morpurgo ('90) observed mitoses rarely 

 in the kidneys of normal animals or during inanition, but more numerous upon 

 refeeding. In the normal rabbits, the diameter of the renal epithelial nuclei 

 averaged 7.29^; in those starved to death, 6.95/x; in those refed after inanition, 



7-35M- 



Lukianow ('88, '89) studied the changes in the water content of the kidneys 

 and other organs in starved pigeons. Tonninga ('93) similarly studied the 

 loss of nitrogen content in fasting rats and rabbits. 



During starvation (with or without water) in 3 rabbits and 1 kitten, Coen 

 ('90) found the renal stroma unchanged. Especially in the convoluted tubules 

 (to a less extent in Henle's loop) the epithelium in places showed cloudy swell- 

 ing and degeneration. The cytoplasm atrophied more than the nuclei, which 

 stained variably. Some fat droplets found in the renal epithelial cells might 

 be remnants of those normally existing. The blood vessels in general appeared 

 distended, with some hemorrhagic foci, and slight glomerulitis. 



In various animals (cat, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, pigeon, frog, turtle, lizard) 

 fasting with losses in body weight of 5, 10, 20 or 30 per cent, Statkewitsch ('94) 

 found that in general the intensity of the lesions in the renal epithelial cells 

 varies according to the length of the inanition. In the early stages, cloudy 

 swelling appears in the convoluted tubules, later finely granular, and finally 

 coarsely granular or fatty degeneration. Sometimes total cell disintegration 

 occurs and granular-albuminous or hyalin cylinders, or fat droplets may be 

 found in the lumen. The nuclear changes vary in different tubules and at 



