THE ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 249 



become active, but at the same time to shorten their life. Earlier 

 experiments by Iwanoff (see p. 246), however, show that spermatozoa 

 which have never come into contact with prostatic secretion possess 

 full functional activity, and are capable of fertilising ova successfully. 1 

 Serralach and Pares 2 have adduced evidence indicating that the 

 prostate is an internally secreting gland which controls the testicular 

 functions, and regulates the process of ejaculation. It is stated that 



FIG. 66. Section through prostate gland of monkey. 



, Tubular alveolus lined with epithelium ; />, alveolus containing concretion 

 in lumen ; c, bundle of muscular fibres in connective tissue ; d, blood- 

 vessels in stroma. 



if the prostate is removed spermatozoa are no longer produced in the 

 testis, and that the secretory activity of the accessory genital glands 

 ceases. These changes, however, can be prevented by the administra- 

 tion of glycerine extracts of prostate gland. The experiments were 

 upon dogs. The most obvious criticism of Serralach and Pares' view 

 is that it is unlikely, on phylogenetic grounds, that the functional 



1 According to Herokawa (Biochcm. '/<>itxdt., vol. xix., 1909) the influence of 

 prostatic fluid on spermatozoa is due to its alkalinity. The addition of small 

 quantities of alkali to physiological salt solution was found to be favourable 

 to spermatozoa. 



2 Serralach and Pai'es, " Quelques donnees sur la Physiologie de la Prostate 

 et du Testicule," C. R. de la Soc. Biol. t vol. Ixiii., 1908. 



