270 J. F. GUDERNATSCH 



lumen which thus becomes more and more occluded and often 

 with gradual dissolution of the cells becomes entirely obliterated. 

 The hyaline band exhibits a somewhat fibre-like structure with 

 processes from it extending between the epithelial cells. It varies 

 in thickness and in some places is entirely missing, and along with 

 this variation in thickness the degeneration of the epithelial cells 

 presents a regional distribution. In some regions the epithelial 

 cell nuclei stain in a normal manner and are situated towards the 

 periphery, in other regions the cell limits are indistinct and the 

 nuclei lie near the lumen. This accords with former observations, 

 and Finotti states that in the kryptorchic testicle, even when the 

 individual is not a hermaphrodite and the germinal epithelium in 

 places develops spermatozoa, the degeneration is not of uniform 

 degree in all regions. 



Wherever there is a membrana propria left in the form of a 

 thm layer of spindle-like connective tissue cells, elastic fibres are 

 usually present. 



The testicle under consideration offers still another peculiarity. 

 The interstitial tissue is enormously increased so that the seminal 

 tubules are in places pushed far apart (fig. 2, i). Connective 

 tissue fibres are comparatively scarce in this tissue. 



The interstitial cells are normal in appearance, the majority 

 being of a triangular or polygonal shape. The large nucleus 

 (there are occasionally two nuclei) possesses one or more nucleoli 

 and is usually excentrically situated. The cytoplasm is somewhat 

 denser than that of ordinary connective tissue cells, it is finely 

 granular and often contains in some regions a very fine brown 

 pigment. Of the so-called Reinke's crystals nothing could be 

 detected. 



The interstitial cells are usually arranged either in small 

 irregular groups or narrow streaks, often, however, they are united 

 in large compact nests and grow so excessively that they actually 

 invade the tunica albuginea. There is no relationship between 

 these cells and the blood vessels as is often claimed. 



This striking increase in the number of interstitial cells is a 

 feature well known to the human embryologist as well as to the 

 pathologist. During the fourth month of embryonal develop- 



