ORGAN WEIGHTS OF RATS RECEIVING HORMONE SUPPLEMENTS DURING RECOVERY FROM CHRONIC STARVATION

Abstract

Chronic starvation of both 30 and 90 days'' duration decreased, in young [male] rats, the relative wts. of the liver, thymus, heart, seminal vesicles, and spleen; increased the relative weights of the adrenal glands, testes, and pituitary; and produced no change in the absolute weights of the brain and kidneys. The alterations produced were such that although refeeding resulted in the restoration of normal weights for the seminal vesicles and testes; the spleen, pituitary and adrenals failed to recover a wt. in normal proportion to the body, and the liver and thymus showed a relative hypertrophy. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of therapeutic supplements of adrenal cortex extract, growth hormone, and testosterone administered during recovery from chronic starvation upon the final organ wts. of the rat. One hundred rats, 30 days old and 50 g. weight, were brought to a state of chronic inanition by a qualitatively balanced constant body wt. ration. They were then refed and groups of 10 were injected with a different hormone . Two different periods of starvation and recovery were employed. Observations were made on body and organ wts. on both starved and refed animals, as well as on fully fed controls. All results were expressed as an avg. of 10 animals. The growth hormone administered during refeeding effected a normal absolute wt. for the adrenals, but dosages adequate to increase also the wt. of the spleen had a depressing effect on the testes, seminal vesicles, and kidneys. Injns. of testosterone, while increasing the wts. of the kidneys and seminal vesicles, decreased the wts. of the thymus and testes. The adrenal cortex extract produced no alteration in organ wts. which could be regarded as significant.