THE INTERSTITIAL GLANDS 371 



based on a series of clinical observations and experimental facts. The clinical 

 observations, which I shall describe first, are concerned with cryptorchidism. 



Variot first pointed out the great difference between kryptorchides ab- 

 dominaux and kryptorchides inguinalis. The first is associated with obesity 

 and broadening of the pelyis; the larynx remains small, the voice remains 

 high and shrill, the beard and the pubic hairs do not grow; microscopical 

 examination shows marked connective tissue proliferation in the extremely 

 small testicles. I shall speak of this form later in the consideration of 

 eunuchoidism. 



In. the adult kryptorchides inguinales, in which the testicles remain behind 

 in the inguinal canal, the sexual potency may be present. Such individuals 

 may have ejaculations without the expulsion of spermatozoa. They are 

 therefore potent, but sterile. These individuals have an entirely masculine 

 habitus, the voice changes, there occur growth of beard and normal hairiness 

 of the trunk, the musculature is vigorous, the dimensions of the skeletons are 

 normal, etc. Here the function of the interstitial glands is retained, while 

 that of the generative glands is not developed. In twenty cases of cryptor- 

 chic testicles, Tandler did not find spermatogenesis in a single case, but did find 

 normal interstitial substance. Therefore, in cryptorchidism the disturb- 

 ance in the development of the glands of generation is the rule, while the 

 disturbance of that of the interstitial glands is found only in severe cases. 



The first experimental observations were made by Ancel and Bouin. 

 They ligated the vasa deferentia and found that after a time spermatogenesis 

 had entirely disappeared, while interstitial glands were retained. These 

 animals showed complete normal development of the masculine habitus. 

 Tandler and Grosz further showed that after intensive Rontgen irradiation 

 of the testicles of young Cerviden the spermatogones, on account of their 

 greater sensitiveness become destroyed, while the interstitial glands were 

 retained. In these animals the masculine sexual characters developed in 

 entirely normal manner. Latterly Simmonds has shown that after Rontgen 

 irradiation there are always found individual undamaged seminal tubules, 

 that can again regenerate; but the significance of this finding must not be 

 estimated too high. Lately Steinach has reported concerning transplanta- 

 tion experiments that place the matter in a secure position. If in young 

 sucklings the testicles are transplanted, the secondary sexual characters 

 proceed to develop entirely normally. The histological examination shows 

 that the spermatozoa are entirely absent. Clinical observation was thus 

 entirely corroborated by experiment. 



As in such animals also the external genitalia develop entirely normally, 

 it is to be assumed that the interstitial glands exercise an important influence: 

 i. On the development of the generative glands. An isolated develop- 

 ment of these without the interstitial glands is not known in' the male 

 sex. 



