THE EFFECT OF ACUTE STARVATION ON THE BODY ORGANS OF THE ADULT WHITE RAT, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ADRENAL GLANDS

Abstract

When rats are starved by withholding all food, though giving water, they develop, two or threes days before death a typical behaviour syndrome, in winch at first there is increased activity, and subsequently, in old animals, marked immobility. At this pre-mortal stage in old animals, or the corresponding stage in younger rats, they have lost 30% or more of their body weight, and if they killed the adrenals are found to be enlarged and discoloured to a dark grey or dark dirty grey. These enlarged glands contain an increased amount of water though their solid content remains practically unaltered, the change representing an increase in the water content of the cells (possibly confined to the cortex). The glomerular zone is diminished in thickness, and the reticular zone also shows abnormality. Animals killed before they have lost 30% of their body weight still have normal adrenals (normal in size, weight, water content, and colour). The enlargement produced m the pre-mortal stage of inanition is a pathological process and is not a hypertrophy. Data in the literature suggest that certain types of adrenal enlargement such as that produced by deficiency of the B-complex vitamins may be similar in nature. The kidneys, heart, and gonads of acutely starved rats tend to lose weight more slowly than the whole body; the liver and spleen more rapidly; and the thyroid at about the same rate.