iv THE GENEKATIVE SYSTEM OF THE MALE 137 



(ft) The sperm drawn from the head of the epididymis like- 

 wise. 



(c) Sperm drawn from the tail of the epididymis presented 

 slight active movements in those parts of the preparation in which 

 it was diluted. 



(d) The sperm of the deferent ducts also presents movements 

 in the diluted parts of the preparation, but no movement where 

 the liquid is more dense. 



(e) The testicular sperm mixed with prostatic secretion shows 

 undoubted movements, but only slightly active. 



(/) The sperm of the epididymis mixed with prostatic secretion 

 shows lively movements. 



(g) Finally, the sperm of the epididymis diluted with solution 

 of chloride of sodium shows also lively movements at the points 

 where the liquid has been well mixed. 



From his observations Walker draws the conclusion that the 

 prostatic secretion stimulates the spermatozoa to movement by 

 diluting the liquid ; but it contains also nutrient substances for 

 the spermatozoa, and this explains the fact observed by Steinach, 

 the greater duration of the movements of the spermatozoa when 

 they are immersed in the prostatic secretion. 



Fiirbringer observes that in spermatic emission without coitus 

 (spermatorrhoea) the spermatozoa move very weakly, whilst in the 

 semen emitted during coitus they move quickly. This he explains 

 by the theory that the stimulating action of the prostatic secretion 

 is wanting in the first, but is present in the second case. 



The prostate has a double innervation : it .receives purely 

 motor fibres from the nervus erigens and motor and secretory 

 fibres from the hypogastric nerve. On stimulation of the first 

 in dogs, Eckhard (1863) saw the prostatic contents voided through 

 the urethra, but the flow ceased if the stimulation was continued 

 after the expulsion. The nervus erigens, therefore, limits its 

 action to the muscular fibres of the gland, expressing the 

 secretion which has accumulated there. The same fact was 

 confirmed by Mislawsky and Bormann (1898), but they found 

 besides that the excitation of the hypogastric nerve, which 

 emerges from the inferior mesenteric ganglion, produces a con- 

 tinuous secretion, acting not only on the muscular fibres, but 

 also on the secretory epithelium of the gland. Atropine checks 

 the secretory action, while pilocarpine causes a continuous 

 secretion. Excitation of the central branch of the hypogastric 

 causes secretion by the gland in a reflex way through the nerve 

 of the opposite side. The inferior mesenteric ganglion acts as 

 centre of the reflex, because the secretory effect persists even 

 after this ganglion is separated from the rest of the sympathetic 

 and spinal system. We shall view in due time the participation 

 of the prostate in the function of spermatic ejaculation. 



