Abstract
Summary
1. During the acute phase of choline deficiency in albino weanling rats, arterioles, venules and capillaries of the mesoappendix exhibit a significantly increased fragility, as measured by response to electrical stimulation, in comparison with control groups. There is also a definitely increased sensitivity of arterioles to epinephrine due to inanition. Venular stasis is more rapidly produced, and is of longer duration among choline-deficient animals than in controls. These vascular phenomena disappear upon addition of choline to the deficient diet. 2. The hypothesis is advanced that these phenomena are reflections of an increased susceptibility to injury of the vessel wall, probably related to deposition of lipid, and that this condition may be an essential factor in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic renal degeneration. 3. Blood pressure of formerly choline deficient rats tends to rise with time. It is suggested that this method of producing experimental hypertension be used more frequently, because of its simplicity and effectiveness.
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