The Interstitial Cells of the Testicle 



133 



of their activity, their increased development generally immediately pre- 

 ceding that of the seminiferous epithelium. The tissue may also be found 

 well developed in cases where there is atrophy of the contents of the 

 seminiferous tubules, as in cases of cryptorchidism and after ligature of the 

 vas def erens ; although if the whole of the spermatic cord be included in 

 the ligature, so that the circulation and nerve-supply to the testicle is inter- 

 fered with, the interstitial cells share in the general atrophy of the organ 

 which ensues, and the result is the same as castration (Vincent and Coleman). 



rap 



i ' 



FIG. 91. Interstitial cells of testicle, human. Magnified 200 diameters. One tubule 

 and parts of two others are shown. The groups of interstitial cells lie in the 

 loose intertubular reticular tissue. (Figs. 90 and 91 are from an iron-haematoxylin 

 preparation given me by Professor Martin Heidenhain.) 



These interstitial cells are polygonal in shape with spherical nucleus, a 

 well-marked nucleolus, and a double centrosome. The cytoplasm often 

 contains lipoid granules of a yellowish colour, which are blackened by 

 osmic acid ; besides other granules of protein nature, which may be either 

 oxyphil or basiphil. Frequently there are crystals within the cells, but 

 the exact nature of these has not been determined. 



EFFECTS OF CASTRATION 



The results of removal of the testes are well known. If the operation 

 is performed in the child the secondary sexual organs especially the 

 prostate and seminal vesicles remain in an undeveloped condition, and the 

 special secondary sexual characters, such as the growth of hair on the face, 

 the enlargement of the larynx, and the development of the male characters 



