Abstract
The experiments were made on the adrenal hypertrophy in thiamine deficiency. In thiamine deficient rats, a significant increase of weight of the adrenal gland due to the hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex was observed. The symptom was restrained by administration of cortisone, while it was not affected by DOCA. ACTH, however, showed a promoting effect on the symptom. In histopathological and histochemical studies, a hyperfunction at the fasciculated zone of the adrenal cortex was observed at the early phase of thiamine deficiency, while at the later phase a functional depression was observed. These findings indicate that a stress caused by the deficiency exerts a certain effect on the pituitary-adrenocortical system.
