32 



Scientific Proceedings (109). 



A full record of the authors' work is now in the Yale Uni- 

 versity Press, and will appear in book form at an early date. 



20 (1602) 



Changes in organ weight produced by diets deficient in antis- 

 corbutic vitamine. 



By Victor K. LaMer and H. L. Campbell. 



[From Columbia University , Dept. of Chemistry, New York City.] 



Young guinea pigs weighing 250-300 grams, fed on a diet 

 deficient in water-soluble C (antiscorbutic vitamine), show at 

 death a pronounced increase in weight of the adrenal glands 

 amounting to approximately 100 per cent, when computed on 

 basis of body weight minus alimentary canal. (Confirming 

 McCarrison's statement.) 



The increase in size is equally definite but not so pronounced 

 when computed on basis of the beginning, or maximum, body 

 weight attained. Starvation controls do not show an increase 

 in adrenal weight. 



The increase in adrenal weight is directly proportional to 

 the length of time which the animal is on the scorbutic diet and is 

 most pronounced in those animals in which life has been prolonged 

 by affording them partial protection with small but insufficient 

 quantities of tomato juice. 



This may be interpreted as indicating a compensatory response 

 to the decreased adrenalin production known to exist in the 

 scorbutic animal. This point is of interest in connection with 

 the extensive intramuscular and intestinal hemorrhages found in 

 scurvy. 



Our data comprising 40 scorbutic and 15 control animals 

 gives no indication that the liver is affected by a lack of water- 

 soluble C alone. There is, however, some evidence that the 

 heart and kidneys are increased on the scorbutic diets. 



