EFFECTS ON THE HYPOPHYSIS 455 



size, but the cells of the pars anterior in some animals at least completely lose 

 their characteristic staining reactions to acid and basic dyes. At the end of the 

 dormant period the gland swells and as the cells enlarge they again acquire their 

 differential affinity for acid, basic and neutral stains, and at the same time 

 karyokinetic figures may appear." 



They emphasized the resemblance of the symptoms of hypopituitarism to 

 those of hibernation, and concluded that "hibernation may be ascribed to a sea- 

 sonal physiological wave of pluriglandular inactivity," in which the hypophysis 

 plays the essential role. 



This theory was opposed by Mann ('16) who found definite but inconstant 

 changes in the hypophysis of the hibernating gopher {S pernio philus tridecemline- 

 atus) . He also pointed out that if such changes are the cause of hibernation, 

 they should appear well-marked at the beginning of hibernation, since later they 

 might be merely a result of the long continued torpid state. Jackson ('17) 

 similarly concluded: "In view of the striking similarity of the cell changes in 

 the two conditions (hibernation and inanition), it seems highly probable that 

 the changes described in the hypophysis during hibernation are simply the effects 

 of the chronic inanition involved." 



Rasmussen ('21), however, failed to find the previously described atrophic 

 changes in the pars anterior of the hibernating woodchuck (Marmota monax). 

 Material was studied from 32 animals killed at various intervals before, during 

 and after hibernation. He concluded that "Hibernation produces no change 

 in the weight or histological structure of the hypophysis, when compared with 

 the prehibernating gland." During a period of inanition after awakening in the 

 spring, however, the hypophysis in the rutting season undergoes a hypertrophy 

 averaging 33 per cent in volume, affecting proportionately all three parts of the 

 gland. The basophile cells become tripled in number and stain more intensely. 



(B) Effects of Partial Inanition 



The relatively few observations concerning the effects of partial inanition 

 upon the hypophysis include data in pellagra, rickets, beriberi, scurvy and 

 aqueous inanition (thirst). 



In human pellagra ("Pellagra typhus"), Rossi ('13) found no histological 

 changes in the hypophysis or in the pineal body. 



In albino rats with experimental rickets, Jackson and Carleton ('23) noted a 

 decrease in the average weight of the hypophysis, varying from 17 to 28 per 

 cent in the various groups (Table n). 



In pigeons with beriberi (vitamin B deficiency), Funk and Douglas ('14) 

 observed definite "signs of degeneration" in the hypophysis and other glands. 

 McCarrison ('19a, '20a, '21) found that in pigeons the hypophysis lost slightly 

 in weight during total inanition, but on autoclaved rice diet remained nearly 

 stationary (Fig. 3 5) or even gained slightly in males. Congestion and somewhat 

 inconstant histological changes were also observed. Similar findings were 

 recorded for monkeys (Macacus sinicus) on variously deficient diets. In the 



