Gelatinous Transformation of Bone Marrow in Prolonged Self‐Induced Starvation

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Abstract
In bone marrow from 3 patients with prolonged, severe self-induced starvation (e.g., anorexia nervosa), fat atrophy, hypoplasia of hemopoietic cells and characteristic gelatinous transformation of marrow were noted. The gelations substance appeared amorphous and stained pink with the Wright-Giemsa stains. Histochemical and ultrastructural studies indicated that it consisted of acid mucopolysaccharides and was extracellular in nature. Similar marrow abnormalities were produced in rabbits by limiting their food intake for 4 mo. These marrow abnormalities in the experimental animals could be reverted to normal by restoring their nutritional status. The gelatinous transformation of marrow may be caused by excessive production of mucopolysaccharides of the ground substance to compensate for the mobilization of marrow fat which occurs to meet the energy requirement. Excessive production of acid mucopolysaccharides may provide a microenvironment unsuitable for hemopoietic proliferation. The relevance of these findings to other conditions associated with marrow aplasia is discussed.