Abstract
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 attempted removal of pituitary neoplasm (adamantino-carcinoma); the second case was a man of 29 years, with loss of vision, staggering 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 brownblack.
Sudan III stains the fine fat droplets a peculiar brownish red; while the larger fat droplets take a deep brick-red to a yellow or pale buff color.
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