For the purpose of classifying the nature of the adrenal cortex, we have investigated histologically about the influence, from which the adrenal cortex was suffered, when animals are layed in the extremely changed circumstances.
We used, as experimental animals, young rats and adult rabbits, and held those animals in certain time every day in such conditions as follows-in the tank of low temperature (2-5°C), high temperature (38°C) and low pressure of oxygen (320 m.m. Hg)
The results obtained are as follows.
1. The weight of suprarenal body in young rats weighing about 50 gr is ca 40 mg per 100 gr of body weight. (40 mg%). When we put there animals in the cold tank 5 hours every day, they loss weight, while causing a hypatrophy of the suprarenal body and rats of weight is 57.5 mg% on the first day. 55.7 mg% on the second day, 48.6 mg% on the third day and 59.5 mg% on the seventh day.
2. If the rats of same weight are held in the tank of high temperature, 4 hours every day, the body weight falls gradually and on the contrary becomes the suprarenal body hypatrophie.
The rats of weight is 41 mg% on the 1st day, 51 mg% on the 2nd day, 53.6 mg% on the 3rd day and if this procedure is continued, many of the animals fall dead. The histological findings of suprarenal body of the animals which were help in the tank of low or high temperature showed in all cases the diminution of the cortical lipiod, particullary distinguished in the Zone fasciculata and Zone reticularis.
3. If the rats of some weight are let in the tank of low pressure (320 mm Hg, 6000-7000 meters of height) over two days long, it caused hypatrophy of suprarenal body, the rat's of weight becomes 68.6 mg% on the second day, 57.0 mg% on the third day and lipoid diminished remarkably in the glommerular and reticular zone. No changes were seen on the first day.
4. If we put the adult rabbit in the tank of the pressure of 320 mm Hg 4-6 hours every day, it caused at first a relatively remarkable decrease of body weight, accompanying with hypatrophy of the suprarenal body. In the experience of short duration (5-7 days), we found the increase of fat in all areas of adrenal cortex and we could see the cells, over which great fat drops are filled up, while in the longer duration of the procedure, decrease of lipoid in the cortex, particullary in the fasticular and reticular zones was found.
5. We could find no remarkable changes in testicle, ovary, pituilary or pineal gland on these experiment.
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