RECENT RBSE ARCHES ON SPERMATOGENESfS. 331 



tion of the teased testis treated with osmic acid, (1) laige^ 

 rounded cells, with one, two, or three nuclei (fig. 2, a). These 

 are the seminiferous cells of Sertoli. (2) Multinucleated 

 masses (fig. 2, b), to which he applies the word Kysts. The pro- 

 toplasm is collected round each nucleus, so that they are rather 

 to be regarded as collections of separate cells. (3) Nemato- 

 cysts (fig. J^, F to j), or cells in which the nucleus has undergone 

 changes to form the head of the spermatozoon. Each is pro- 

 vided with a filament. (4) Large oval nuclei (fig. 2, c), sur- 

 rounded by masses of hyaline protoplasm, which are really the 

 basal portion of the "cellules de soutien," to be mentioned 

 immediately. 



By means of | % of alcohol of Ranvier, he found another 

 element, which he regards as extremely worthy of attention. 

 These are large cylindrical cells with expanded bases, contain- 

 ing in the expanded end a large smooth nucleus, and support- 

 ing at the other the nematocysts or immature spermatozoa. 

 He identifies these cells as the cellule de soutien of Meckel, 

 and the cellule fixe of Sertoli, as well as part of the spermato- 

 blast of V. Ebner, who applied this latter name to the cell 

 under consideration, taken together with the nematocysts sup- 

 ported on its central end (fig. 2, d and e). 



As regards the origin of these cellules de soutien, and their 

 connection with the nematocysts, our author thinks that they 

 arise independently from cells placed next the lining membrane 

 of the seminal tubule, and that they come into connection with 

 the nematocysts as they grow towards the centre of the tubules 

 supporting them, and by their growth pushing them as mature 

 spermatozoa into the lumen. He gives as a reason for the dis- 

 tinctness of the two that very young nematocysts are not found 

 in connection with the cellules de soutien, but, viewing the 

 subject in the light which we have gained from the study of 

 Spermatogenesis in other classes, 1 think that any one will 

 allow that it is extremely probable that there is a closer con- 

 nection between them than our author has allowed, and that 

 the " cellules de soutien " are homologous and analogous with 

 the body which has been described in the foregoing papers as 



