234 GREGOR T. POPA. 



fluid on the lipoid material surrounding the spermatozoa is 

 demonstrated to be correct. 



6. The question next to be considered is the role of sodium 

 chloride in the reaction. It has been shown that sodium chloride 

 accelerates the reaction. Microscopical observation of the action 

 of sodium chloride on spermatozoa indicates that the sodium 

 chloride causes the minute droplets of lipoid to aggregate into 

 larger droplets. We can conclude that the sodium chloride 

 prepares the way for the action of the follicular fluid by producing 

 some change in the colloidal state of the lipoid. Further research 

 would be required to elucidate this point. 



7. An additional point has been determined, namely, that the 

 lipoid substance occurs on the surface of and between the 

 spermatozoa. This is shown by the following experiments: 



(a) When spermatozoa are washed once with 0.9 per cent, 

 salt solution and filtered, both the washed spermatozoa and the 

 filtrate produce the reaction in five to ten minutes. 



(&) When such spermatozoa are washed a second time and 

 filtered the washed spermatozoa and the filtrate from the second 

 washing yield the reaction only after 24 hours. 



(c) The same spermatozoa after being washed a third time do 

 not give the reaction in 24 hours nor does the filtrate from the 

 third washing yield any coagulum in this time. 



(d) These spermatozoa after being washed three times were 

 ground in a mortar with salt solution and filtered again. The 

 reaction again failed. 



From these experiments it appears clear that the lipoid sub- 

 stance is not contained inside of the spermatozoa but occurs on 

 their surfaces and between them. The question of the role of 

 this lipoid for the life of the spermatozoa and in the process of 

 fertilization will be the subject of new researches now under 

 way. 



IV. THE PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LILLIE'S REACTION. 



The first point to be considered is whether the reaction is 

 organ specific. The experiments show that only follicular fluid 

 produce the reaction and so it is organ specific in this sense. 

 Stricto sensu, the reaction is however not specific for I have 



