MALE ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 233 



Akutsu l state that the epithelial cells of the vesiculae seminales 

 change their character according to whether they are in a state 

 of rest or activity. In the former condition they are larger 

 and contain more plasma substance. Kolster 2 has described 

 desquamation of epithelial cells in the seminal vesicles of the 

 elk (Cervus alces). 



The secretion is formed apparently in considerable quantity. 

 Its character and composition vary somewhat in different 

 Mammals. In Man it is gelatinous, and consists chiefly of 

 globulins. 3 It has been investigated in Rodents by Sobotta, 4 

 Rauther, 5 and others, who describe it as a white or yellowish- 

 white gelatinous fluid, which becomes almost solid after ejacu- 

 lation. This capacity to clot is supposed by Landwehr 6 to be 

 due to the presence of fibrinogen, 27 per cent, of which was 

 found to be present. Calcium, however, could not be dis- 

 covered. Camus and Gley 7 state the clotting is brought about 

 by a specific ferment (which they call vesiculase) in the prostatic 

 secretion. (See p. 237.) 



The clotting of the fluid, after its entrance into the female 

 passages in Rodents, prevents the escape of the spermatozoa 

 and so helps to ensure fertilisation. This fact was first dis- 

 covered by Lataste, 8 who speaks of the " bouchon vaginal " 

 formed by the solidified secretion of the vesiculae. Similar ob- 

 servations have been made by Leuckart 9 and others. The 



1 Akutsu, " Mikroscopische Untersuchung der Secretionsvorgange in den 

 Samenblasen," Pfluger's Archiv, vol. xcvi., 1903. Further references are 

 given in this paper. 



2 Kolster, " Ueber einen eigenartigen Prozess in den Samenblasen von 

 Cervus alces," Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., vol. lx., 1902. 



3 Fiirbringer, "Die Storungen des Geschlechtsfunktion des Menschen," 

 Nothnagel's Pathologic und Therapie, vol. xix., 1895. 



* Sobotta, " Die Befruchtung und Furchung des Eies der Maus," Arch. f. 

 Mikr. Anat., vol. xlv., 1895. 



5 Rauther, "Ueber den Genitalapparat einiger Nager und Insektivoren," 

 &c., Jenaische Zeitsch. f. Natururissenschaft, vol. xxxvii., 1903. 



* Landwehr, " Ueber den Eiweisskorper (fibrinogene substanz) der Vesicula 

 seminalis der Meerschweinchen," Pfluger's Archiv, vol. xxiii., 1880. 



7 Camus and Gley, " Note sur quelques faits relatifs a 1'enzyme prostatique 

 (vesiculase) et sur la fonction des glandes vesiculaires," C. R. de Soc. de Biol., 

 vol. iv. (10th series), 1897. 



8 Lataste, " Sur le bouchon vaginal des Rongeurs," Zool. Am., vol. vi., 1883. 

 ' Leuckart, Zur Morphologic und Anatomic der Geschlechteorgane, Gottin- 



gen, 1847. 



