124 C. M. JACKSON AND C. A. STEWART 



underfeeding) to a body weight of 25 to 75 grams, the empty 

 stomach and intestines still appeared somewhat above normal in 

 weight. In the present series refed to maximum body weight, an 

 over-weight persists in the alimentary canal, both with and with- 

 out contents, excepting in the fourth group (table 2) . A period 

 of inanition in the young, growing rat therefore apparently tends 

 to produce a permanently hypertrophied condition in the ali- 

 mentary canal (stomach and intestines) . 



The suprarenal glands, like the hypophysis, show a sexual 

 difference in weight (Hatai, Jackson). They usually increase 

 above normal weight in young rats underfed for various periods, 

 but were found nearly normal on ref ceding to a body weight of 

 25 to 75 grams. In the present series refed to maximum body 

 weight, they appear irregular (table 2), some groups being above 

 normal, others subnormal in weight. As the suprarenals are 

 normally somewhat variable and the number of observations 

 rather small, no definite conclusion is justified. The histo- 

 logical changes in the suprarenal glands during inanition and 

 refeeding have been described by Jackson ('19). 



The ovaries appear especially affected by inanition during the 

 early growth period. As shown by Stewart ('18), they increase 

 markedly in weight in rats underfed from birth to three, six, or 

 ten weeks, but are somewhat variable in those underfed for long 

 periods beginning at three weeks of age. In the former group, 

 Jackson and Stewart ('19), in ratfe refed to a body weight of 25 

 to 75 grams, found the ovaries irregular in weight, usually sub- 

 normal in those which had been underfed to ten weeks. 



The present data (table 2) indicate that in the rats underfed 

 beginning either at birth or at three weeks of age, the later growth 

 of the ovaries is profoundly affected. They average from 32 to 

 61 per cent below normal in the rats refed to maximum body 

 weight. This subnormal weight of the ovaries indicates an 

 atrophy w^hich is doubtless sufficient to account for the marked loss 

 of reproductive power in the test females. This was discussed 

 earlier in the paper. Since these females were mated with normal 

 males (the controls), their failure to reproduce cannot be ascribed 

 to the males. 



