ADTHOR S ABSTRACT OF THIS PAPER ISSUED 

 BY THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE, JUNE 27 



THE INTERSTITIAL CELLS OF THE URODELE TESTIS^ 



R. R. HUMPHREY 



Department of Histology and Embryology , Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 



SEVEN TEXT FIGURES AND FOUR PLATES (FIGURES EIGHT TO THIRTY-NINE) 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 213 



Cyclic changes 215 



Historical 215 



Significance of variation in correlations 218 



Present investigation 220 



Material and technique 221 



Structure of the urodele testis 223 



Spermatogenetic cycle and mating period of Necturus 229 



Interstitial cell cycle in Necturus 230 



a. Absence of such cells in summer months 230 



b. Differentiation of interstitial cells; their mitoses 232 



c. Condition in late fall and winter months 235 



d. Details of cell structure 2*41 



e. Final degeneration or reversion of the cells 247 



/. The testis in immature males 250 



The interstitial cells of other urodeles 251 



a. Desmognathus f usca 251 



b. Diemyctylus viridescens 255 



c. Salamandra atra, Cryptobranchus, etc 258 



Discussion 260 



Summary '. 267 



Literature cited 269 



INTRODUCTION 



The frequent occurrence of the term 'interstitial gland of the 

 testis' in the extensive current Uterature on internal secretions 

 indicates that the secretory function of the interstitial cells of 

 Leydig has become widely accepted as a demonstrated fact. 



1 Expenses incurred in the course of this investigation have been partially 

 met from the Mrs. Dean Sage Research Fund; this assistance is hereby gratefully 

 acknowledged. 



213 



