THE EFFECT OF GONADECTOMY ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUPRARENAL GLANDS OF MICE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FUNCTIONAL RELATION BETWEEN THIS GLAND AND THE SEX GLAND OF FEMALE.

Abstract

From clinical and pathological observations in man it has long been inferred that there are some functional relations between the suprarenal gland and the sex gland. Recently from the results obtained by gonadectomy and the histological observations of the gland in some rodents many investigators have thrown light more clearly upon this subject than hitherto. But these differ so strikingly among different investigators that renewed studies are required, especially, as the histological and cytological evidence of the secretory function of this gland which is the essential point in giving a reliable evidence on this subject, so far as we known, has as yet not been indicated. It is for this reason that the present study was undertaken. The chief results obtained may be summarized as follows:1. The size of the suprarenal glands differs strikingly according to sex, the females having considerable larger glands than the males. This difference in size is due to the degree of development of the zona reticularis; in the females this zone develops remarkably, while in the mature males this disappears almost entirely, leaving a few number of cells of this kind behind.2. The size of the suprarenals of the females shows a considerable difference according to various periods of oestrous cycle, and this variation in size is due to the structural difference of this gland.3. In the mature females the amount of the zona reticularis varies strikingly according to every individual animal; in some females this shows enormous development, while in the others a considerable amount of cells of this zone disappears by fatty degeneration.4. At the beginning of the pregnancy the degeneration of the zona reticularis begins and it proceeds more and more until this zone becomes disappeared entirely, while the zona fasciculata increases slightly. Immediately after partrition sometimes the cells of the zona reticularis again appear which immediately disappear by fatty degeneration.5. In the very young mice the zona reticularis develops both in the males and females. In the females this zone increases gradually, while in the males it disappears prior to the sexual maturity. In the old females the zone disappears almost entirely, attaining the same structure as that of the males.6. The suprarenal glands of castrated males are greater than those of the normal males. This enlargement is not simply due to the increase of every tissue, but depends upon the growth of the zona reticularis, while the medulla diminishes slightly. In the castrated the increase of this zona is so strikingly that its amount becomes almost similar to that of the females.7. As the result of gonadectomy in the females, no structural changes occur in the supprarenal glands, the zona reticularis showing the same development as in the mature females.8. The cells of the zona reticularis contain as the normal components the mitochondria, the secretory granules, the vacuoles and the lipoid granules. According to each individual cell the amount of these granules is extremely varied. From accurate observation it becomes evident that the vacuoles are formed as the result of liquefaction of the contents of the secretory granules.From the facts above mentioned the writere came to the following conclusions:1. As regards the structure of the suprarenal glands the results obtained by many investigators differ strikingly even among the rodents. Thus whether the structural difference of the suprarenals between the males and females is peculiar to the mouse or whether this may exist in all the mammals is a signiffcant point which requires further observations.2. Judging from the structural changes of the zona reticularis in the females it seems most probable that there are functional relations between this zone and the sex gland of the same.