Abstract
McCarrison 1 described histological changes in the adrenal glands of guinea pigs fed a diet lacking in vitamin C. He reported hemorrhagic infiltration and degenerative changes in the cells of the cortex and medulla. The hemorrhagic areas are described as varying in size, situated in the cortex of the gland, and are circumscribed in character. The cells of the cortex are described as losing their tessellated appearance and manifesting a state of degeneration, which includes vacuolation and loss of the staining reaction of a portion of the nuclei.
Findlay 2 observed congestion in both cortex and medulla, but could not corroborate McCarrison's findings in regard to other cellular changes. Hemorrhage was observed only a few times.
Höjer 3 did not observe hemorrhage. The most pronounced change was simple atrophy, at first in connection with hyperemia.
Twelve guinea pigs were fed a scorbutic diet of alfalfa meal and wheat flour, equal parts by weight, oats ad libitum and powdered whole milk (Klim) corresponding to 50 cc. fresh milk daily. Others were subjected to severe inanition by receiving limited amounts of the above diet with 2 cc. orange juice added daily.
Histological observations upon the adrenal glands of the different animals subjected to scurvy and starvation reveal similar changes in the adrenals. These glands present varying degrees of the changes reported by McCarrison. 1 In all cases where a change has taken place, evidence of hemorrhagic infiltration is more pronounced than degeneration of the cells. The infiltration assumes a circumscribed appearance around the medulla, occurring between the columns of cells of the cortex along the connective tissue septa.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.