OVUM-LIKE BODIES IN THE TESTIS 569 



forming.^ In the very degenerate abdominal testis of a pig 

 which has been examined in this Department we meet with 

 a precisely similar type of cell."^ In this case, however, the 

 proliferation has been completed and enormous quantities of 

 interstitial tissue are present. The fibrous tissue has almost 

 disappeared. All the interstitial cells have assumed the fat- 

 forming character we have described, but are at a slightly 

 more advanced stage than is usually the case in the rabbit 

 in that the cytoplasm shows small circular vacuoles from which 

 the fat has been dissolved during fixation. In the human 

 undescended testis to which we have already referred a similar 

 condition is found. The immense increase in interstitial tissue, 

 so striking a feature in the pig and rabbit, was not seen, but 

 all the interstitial cells have taken on the character of fat-forming 

 cells. The cytoplasmic vacuoles are much larger than in the 

 pig, and in some cases occupy most of the cell. 



Tunica Alljuginea . — -The tunica albuginea is con- 

 siderably thickened at one point but otherwise appears normal. 



Epididymis. — The epididymis (PL 21, fig. 17) is closely 

 invested at all points by a thick layer of adipose tissue which 

 separates it from the gonad. The cytology of the epithelial 

 cells appears almost normal, although in certain of the cells 

 the cytoplasm has a shghtly vacuolated appearance. Cilia 

 are visible. The lumen is filled with a lightly-staining coagulum 

 in which appear circular vacuoles. Deeply-staining cell detritus 

 is also present. 



Intratubular Bodies. — Ovum-like bodies are present 

 in large numbers. They closely resemble those found in the goat 

 but have not reached such an advanced stage of formation. 



Structure. — Calcification appears in comparatively few; 

 most give the vivid orange coloration with Van Gieson's stain, 

 characteristic of colloid degeneration (PI. 18, fig. 3). When 



^ Since writing the above this question has been investigated further. 

 It would appear that the cells are not ' fat-forming ' but are enlarged 

 owing to accumulation in the cytoplasm of various nutritive materials, 

 A paper dealing fully with this subject is in the press. 



' ' Veterinary Journal', March 1922. 



