THE REPRODUCTIVE GLANDS. 421 



system, and the reproductive organs. It represents the active prin- 

 ciple of Brown-Sequard's elixir. 



The Spermatozoa. Our knowledge of the chemical composi- 

 tion of the spermatozoa has been greatly extended within recent 

 years through the researches of Kossel and his pupils, preceded by 

 those of Miescher and Piccard. These observers were able to show 

 that in certain fishes, such as the salmon, sturgeon, pike, shad, 

 herring, and mackerel, substances can be isolated from the mature 

 .spermatozoa, which apparently represent the simplest forms of 

 albumin, and are now collectively termed protamins. Their general 

 characteristics have already been described (page 69), and I shall 

 merely recall at this place that, according to Kossel, a protamin 

 radicle is contained in all albumins and represents the fundamental 

 nucleus of the albuminous molecule. These protamins, of which 

 several varieties are described, and which yield the hexon-bases on 

 hydrolytic decomposition, are supposedly combined with nucleinic 

 acids to form nucleins. The individual nucleinic bases which 

 further enter into the construction of the nucleinic acids are the 

 common forms, which are also found elsewhere in the animal body. 

 But it appears that the spermatozoa of different animals do not con- 

 tain all forms. In the case of the salmon, Miescher and Piccard thus 

 found guanin and hypoxanthin, while from the semen of the carp 

 Kossel obtained adenin and hypoxanthin, as also small amounts of 

 xanthin, but no guanin. Inoko, on the other hand, claims to have 

 found all forms in the semen of the salmon, boar, and ox, but 

 states that the relative amounts of the individual forms are not 

 constant. 



Immature spermatozoa apparently contain no protamins as such, 

 and researches must be undertaken to ascertain whether the 

 results which have thus far been obtained in the lower forms of 

 animal life also hold good for the higher forms. But even so, it is 

 apparent that the protamins play an important rdle in the process of 

 reproduction, and a key may thus be furnished which will admit of 

 an insight into the chemical basis of those mysterious morphological 

 changes which find their expression in the development of the 

 ovum. For there can be no doubt that in those animals in which 

 the presence of protamins has been established in the spermatozoa 

 they represent the essential reproductive elements on the part of 

 the male. This suggests itself at once from a survey of the 

 analysis of the spermatozoa of the salmon as given by Miescher : 

 The nucleins, which are here referred to are, according to Kossel, 

 nucleinic acids : 



Per cent. 



Nucleins 48.68 



Protamins (salmin) 26.76 



Other albumins lo.:5'2 



Lecithins 7.47 



rhnlesterin 2/J1 



Fats 4.53 



