4 2 



Scientific Proceedings (78). 



26 (1204) 



A study of the lipin-content of the liver in two cases of pituitary 

 dystrophy. (Preliminary report.) 



By Aldred Scott Warthin, Ph.D., M.D. 



[From the Pathological Laboratory of the University of Michigan, 



Ann Arbor.] 



Studies of the lipins in the curious obesity characteristic of 

 hypopituitarism have not as yet been made. In the case of two 

 autopsies upon bodies showing this condition microchemical 

 studies have been carried out by the writer. 



One case was a boy of eighteen showing infantilism, obesity 

 and loss of sight (dystrophia adiposo-genitalis). Died after at- 

 tempted removal of pituitary neoplasm (adamantino-carcinoma) ; 

 the second case was a man of 29 years, with loss of vision, stagger- 

 ing gait and disturbed mentality. Acromegalic symptoms with 

 secondary hypopituitarism. Round-cell sarcoma of base of skull 

 destroying a hypophysis adenoma. 



Both bodies showed very marked post-mortem increase of 

 temperature; the source of the heat-production apparently being 

 localized in the panniculi and fatty livers. 



Gross Appearances of the Fat. — Panniculi thick, in large coarse 

 lobules; when first cut it was glistening, translucent, very firm 

 and light buffy yellow in color. As it cooled it became more buff 

 in color, opaque and very hard. The livers of both cases were 

 large, mottled red and yellow, with fatty shine. 



Microscopical. — Frozen sections examined optically showed 

 the presence of numerous small anisotropic droplets in liver, 

 adrenals, panniculi, intima of aorta, and elsewhere. In the liver 

 the fine anisotropic droplets are chiefly in the central and midzonal 

 regions. They are present also in a narrow border of preserved 

 liver cells in the peripheral zone. Larger isotropic droplets are 

 scattered irregularly through the lobule, usually occurring in 

 groups. There is in both cases a peculiar necrosis of the inner 

 portion of the peripheral zone (intra-peripheral necrosis). 



Staining with osmic acid gives a pale gray tint to the fine 

 anisotropic droplets, while the larger fat-drops stain a deep brown- 

 black. 



