Chapter V. 



The Seat of Production of the Internal 

 Secretion of the Ovary. 



A. MAMMALS. 



Before entering into the question as to the parts of the ovary 

 which elaborate the internal secretions, and before proceeding 

 to a discussion of the different experiments made to elucidate 

 this problem, we propose to give a short account of the histology 

 and histogenesis of the ovary in so far as this concerns our 

 problem. We do not intend however to discuss in detail 

 questions which are purely histological. 



I. The Interstitial Cells of the Ovary. 



The histological appearances of the ovary are much more 

 complex than those of the testicle. The subject has been 

 examined by many authors, of whom Sainmont, Aime, Wini- 

 warter, Fraenkel and Schaeffer, Limon, Seitz, Wallart and 

 Aschner may be especially mentioned. There have been many 

 controversies about the interstitial cells in the ovary. But 

 there can be scarcely any doubt that interstitial cells homo- 

 logous with those in the testicle are to be found in the ovary 

 of all the species of mammals which have been investigated. 

 The number of these cells is, indeed, very different according 

 to the species, to the age, and to the special condition of the 

 individual. The interstitial cells [Fig. 94) are described as 

 epithelioid and polyhedric, and as cells of a glandular nature 

 grouped around the capillaries {Fig. 95). The cells may form 

 nests or cords separated by thin threads of connective tissue 

 {Fig. 96). The latter contains blood vessels from which 

 capillaries enter into the nests. These cells are in no way 

 similar to connective tissue cells ; they resemble rather the cells 

 of the liver or of the cortical substance of the adrenals. The 

 protoplasm of these cells is granulated or vacuolated, and 

 ■contains small droplets of fat. As to the presence of the yellow 



