EFFECTS ON THE URINARY TRACT 379 



change in the renal fat of starved dogs, examined both microscopically and by 

 chemical analysis. 



In rabbits with experimental toxic marasmus, Cesaris-Demel ('06) noted 

 that the kidneys were reduced in size, with granular pigmentation in the con- 

 voluted tubules, but never in the Malpighian bodies and rarely in the renal 

 connective tissues. Unusual destruction of red blood corpuscles constituted 

 the source of the pigment. 



Takaki ('07) studied the kidney-cells of mice and rats during inanition. No 

 changes were found in the rod-like structures in the kidney-cells of the mouse, 

 up to the third day of total inanition, with loss of 22.2 per cent in body weight. 

 With progressive loss in body weight (up to 36 per cent in 5 days), the rods 

 become shorter and thicker, or broken into fine or coarse granular fragments 

 which may remain in rows parallel with the long axis of the cell. Fat droplets 

 may occur normally or as a result of degeneration. Mice on water or dry 

 bread only showed similar changes. Postmortem changes may simulate 

 those due to inanition, with marked decrease in stainability of the cells. The 

 secretory changes were also studied in refeeding experiments. Takaki con- 

 cluded that the replacement of the rods by granules is a stage in the normal 

 secretion; but although the fine granules are normal the coarse granules are 

 pathological. 



Roger ('07) determined the water content of the kidneys and other organs 

 during inanition in rabbits, finding but slight changes. 



Beeli ('08) found that in cats at various stages of inanition the kidney 

 appears comparatively resistant in the earlier stages, but with marked reduction 

 of about one-half (relatively equal to that of the body) at death from starva- 

 tion. At loss of 9.6 per cent in body weight, the renal cells showed but slight 

 changes. At losses of 31 per cent to 51 per cent in body weight, the cells of 

 the convoluted tubules showed variable degenerative changes, with cloudy 

 swelling, granulation, and irregular, feebly-staining or pycnotic nuclei. A 

 distribution table for nuclei according to diameter in the various stages of 

 inanition shows a slight tendency to decrease in size. 



Adami ('08) reviewed the atrophic changes in the cells of the kidney and 

 other organs during malnutrition. 



Cesa-Bianchi ('09) made a careful study of the changes in the kidney- (and 

 liver-) cells of the white mouse during fasting. He considered the rabbit 

 unfavorable, on account of the frequency of spontaneous lesions. When the 

 loss in body weight is 40 per cent, a decrease of 15 or 20 per cent is found in the 

 thickness of the wall of the uriniferous tubules (cell boundaries indistinct), but 

 the nuclei appear unchanged in size. During inanition the rods of the renal 

 epithelium break up into parallel rows of granules, which finally increase in 

 size and occupy the entire cell, with corresponding decrease in size and final 

 disappearance of the liposomes. Nuclear changes (hyperchromatosis, chro- 

 matin clumping, karyorrhexis or pycnosis) appear late, usually followed by 

 appearance of myelin in the cytoplasm, and lead rapidly to the death of the cell. 

 He concluded: 



