Transplantation of Suprarenale 



457 



We have failed in our attempts to obtain permanent grafts. 

 A number of eggs were obtained from each of the transplanted 

 doves and offspring of these birds were reared. Records were 

 made for both the parents (transplanted) and offspring during 

 a period of 30 months and data obtained for various repro- 

 ductive capacities and characteristics (age of maturity, fertility, 

 viability, rate of egg production, number and kind of various 

 abnormalities). An examination of these data indicates that 

 none of these characteristics in the offspring can be associated 

 with the transplantations made upon their parents; and that 

 most of these reproductive characteristics were also unaffected 

 in the transplanted birds themselves. This considerable amount 

 of data comprising negative results need not be further con- 

 sidered and is left with the above brief statement. It is thought, 

 however, that two or three by-products of these transplantation 

 tests are of sufficient interest to record, though the data are too 

 meagre to warrant conclusions. 



Fifteen ring doves and five common pigeon young received 

 the first transplants at 5 to 10 days after hatching (age was 

 therefore 19-24 days). Additional transplants were made in 

 several cases at about 25, 50, 75 and 100 days later. Pairs of 

 suprarenals taken from related young birds — often from brother 

 or sister— were used in each graft. In the first and second 

 grafts upon each bird one whole gland. was placed subcutaneously 

 in the axilla and another on the featherless area of the breast, 

 where the very thin and quite transparent skin permitted easy 

 and frequent observation on the condition of the graft. Birds 

 grafted a third, fourth and fifth time received both glands at 

 slightly separated points on the breast area. Although several 

 of these grafts plainly obtained a blood supply, and gave the 

 appearance of remaining essentially intact for periods up to 10 

 days, our superficial observations together with the three grafts 

 removed at various intervals for sectioning indicates a practical 

 failure of the grafts. A temporary or partial functioning of 

 the grafts cannot of course be excluded; their resorption may 

 be looked upon as in some respects equivalent to the injection 

 of macerated suprarenal tissue. 



Omitting all reference to the smaller group of common pigeon 

 young thus transplanted we have summarized in table I certain 

 data obtained from the ring doves. Only 11 of the 15 grafted 



