146 CAEL R. MOORE 



of such cells is so clearly demonstrated in these grafts under 

 consideration that there is no hesitancy in making mention of 

 it while considering the fate of the atretic follicles with which 

 these grafts abound. 



The history of the follicle has been described in a very general 

 way up to the stage at which the ovum fragments and the products 

 of the destruction lie free within the follicular cavity. In every 

 graft there are numerous follicles in which all but the debris of 

 the ovum has disappeared, and figures 8 and 1 1 show clearly that 

 the stratum granulosum of such follicles remains intact and 

 unbroken. But these cells of the stratum granulosum have 

 undergone considerable change since they were cells of a normal 

 follicle (not well shown in the drawing), for the cells are larger 

 and the cytoplasm has taken on a pronounced reticulated appear- 

 ance. These changes are still more pronounced as atresia is 

 advanced, and if the follicular cavity is noticed one sees that it 

 becomes smaller and smaller as the changes go on, until only 

 the least vestige of a cavity is discernible; the stratum granu- 

 losum cells remain in their characteristic position and the entire 

 follicular mass is surrounded by a connective-tissue layer that 

 is especially well demonstrated after staining with Mallory's 

 triple stain. Figure 11 (a section of an eight-month graft from 

 male 49 A, stained with hematoxylin and eosin) shows at B a 

 follicle in which the cavity has almost entirely disappeared, but 

 the large mass of granulosa cells are clearly surrounded by its 

 connective-tissue layer (probably the external theca). Follicle 

 A is one in an earlier stage of atresia, while the tissue at C is the 

 remains of follicles whose degeneration has taken them still 

 farther; from this figure the gradual progression of atresia is 

 shown in these three steps, from the definite structure in A 

 through the condition exhibited by B and finally the remains of 

 such a destruction at C. Reference again to figure 2 shows the 

 follicles d, e, f, and g with the small-sized follicular cavities, but 

 others in the same section have lost all visible traces of the cavity 

 and the masses of cells are distinctly or indistinctly surrounded 

 by the connective-tissue layers, depending upon how far the 

 changes have progressed. It is to such masses of cells that the 



