OVUM-LIKE BODIES IN THE TESTIS 565 



layer beneath, but drift into the lumen of the tubule where they 

 form the syncitial masses we have described. As more cells 

 are added, these masses condense into more deeply-staining 

 aggregates. The process of liquefaction continues until the 

 more central cells lose all cytological structure and finally 

 give rise to colloid globules which, adhering together, give the 

 emulsoid appearance seen in (1) (PI. 19, lig. 8) and in (2) (PI. 19, 

 tig. 9). If the desquamation and liquefaction of the different 

 layers of cells are rapid, a single large colloid globule is pro- 

 duced, as in B (PI. 18, fig. 6), Usually, however, the process is 

 more gradual. Calcification appears to follow the colloid de- 

 generation and, if desquamation and liquefaction take place 

 slowly, may wholly or partially metamorphose the colloid globule 

 formed by the first layer of cells, before liquefaction of the next 

 layer is completed. In this way a body having a concentric 

 structure is produced, each of the rings seen in the cross- 

 section representing a layer of cells. It would appear that these 

 objects resemble corpora amylacea in significance and 

 in mode of formation. In (5) (PI. 18, fig. 4) we have an example 

 of gradual degeneration. Though the central structure is 

 comparatively small, calcification is already complete. The 

 preparation is stained with Mallory's stain, and the central 

 structure has taken on the Aniline Blue, whilst the investing 

 cells have stained with Orange G. In b (PI. 18, fig. 6) we have, 

 as has already been stated, an example of rapid colloid 

 degeneration. The body which is here figured occurred in the 

 same section as (5) (PI. 18, fig. 4) but has stained with Orange G. 

 like the epithelial cells of the tubule. Calcification, however, 

 has at length set in as is shown by the blue coloration at the 

 periphery. 



On studying sections stained with Van Gieson's stain, it 

 was found that the small globules and the most degenerate 

 of the epithelial cells give the orange coloration characteristic 

 of colloid degeneration, whereas the larger, concretion-like 

 structures stain a deep magenta (PL 18, fig. 1). This also lends 

 support to the view that the spherical structures have been 

 produced by colloid degeneration followed by calcification. 



