INFLUENCE ON SEX CHARACTERS 337 



which was likewise diminished after removal of the seminal 

 vesicles. 



One might indeed object that the diminution of fertility was 

 caused by the testicles having suffered from the abdominal 

 operation. As we pointed out in Chapter IV. the testicle is of 

 an extraordinary sensitiveness. If the abdominal operation is 

 performed without complete aseptis one often notices consider- 

 able changes in the generative part of the testicle. But it is 

 naturally impossible to say how far this factor might have 

 been involved in the experiments of the authors referred to. 



But what is the real function of the seminal vesicles? It 

 was formerly thought that they serve as receptacles for sper- 

 matozoa, and hence the name of the organ. But spermatozoa 

 are not always present in the seminal vesicles, and if present 

 they are only in small quantities. In guinea pigs I have many 

 times examined the contents of the seminal vesicles without 

 having found spermatozoa. Most probably the mucosa of the 

 seminal vesicles has a secretory function, the secretion not 

 always having exactly the same significance for the various 

 species. Leuckart seems to have been the first to call attention 

 to the fact that in the guinea pig the fluid secreted by the 

 seminal vesicles has the power of coagulation. Any one working 

 experimentally with guinea pigs is familiar with this fact. 

 The ejaculated fluid becomes solidified in about one minute. 

 It is the so-called "botichon vaginal." Camus and Gley (1896, 

 1921, 1922) have carefully examined the mechanism of the 

 coagulation. They showed that the prostate produces an 

 enzyme which causes coagulation of the secretion of the 

 seminal vesicles; they called this enzyme " vesiculase." 

 Only traces of it are present in the new-born animal; its 

 quantity increases during sexual maturation. The enzyme 

 is not specific for a given species (1922 b). The bouchon 

 vaginal is found in the vagina of the female, and according to 

 Leuckart prevents the spermatozoa from leaving the vagina 

 Mechanical functions were ascribed to the bouchon vaginal 

 by Gley in another sense also. He suggested that the more 

 abundant secretion of the vesicles and of the prostate favours 

 the transportation and ejaculation into the vagina of the 

 small quantities of secretion which are produced in the testicle 

 and in the epididymis. This question was lately examined 

 more fully by Amantea in the laboratory of Baghoni. For 



