4'2'2 THE (iLAM)ULAR ORGANS. 



The albumins referred to in this table have not been studied in 

 detail. One of them, according to Miescher, contains 4 per cent, of 

 sulphur. In addition, the spermato/oa are said to contain a cere- 

 broside, which is similar to cerebrin ; also a very considerable 

 proportion of inorganic salts, which are essentially represented by 

 phosphate-. 



Detailed analyses of the spermatozoa of the higher animals and of 

 man are not yet available. 



As regards the composition of the separate parts of the sperma- 

 tozoa very little is known, but it seems that the protamins, com- 

 bined with nucleinic acids, are the most important components of 

 the head. The tails are dissolved in gastric juice on prolong! 

 digestion, and hence probably consist of albumins. As a whole, 

 the spermatozoa are exceedingly resistant to ordinary solvents. They 

 are soluble in boiling solutions of the caustic alkalies, while in 

 concentrated sulphuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and boiling 

 solutions of sodium carbonate they dissolve only in part. They 

 are likewise resistant to putrefactive changes, and can be obtained 

 from dried semen, with the preservation of their natural form, 

 by placing the material in a 1 per cent, solution of sodium chloride. 



For a detailed description of the methods which are employed in 

 the isolation of the individual protamins, I must refer the reader to 

 the articles of Kossel, Kurajeff, and others. A satisfactory result 

 may be expected only if the spermatozoa are mature, but even then 

 no protamins may be found, as I have already indicated. Working 

 with mature testicles of the sea-trout, I was unable to obtain a body 

 of this order. 



The Ovaries. Thus far a study of the chemical composition 

 of the ovaries has not revealed any special points of interest. 

 In addition to collagen and mucins, which enter into the con- 

 struction of the supporting tissue of the organs, nucleins and true 

 albumins have also been found, and are probably derived from the 

 contained ova and other cellular elements. 



The most important constituents of the cortex of the gland, viz., 

 the Graafian follicles, which enclose the specific product of the func- 

 tional activity of the ovaries, viz., the ova, have for obvious reasons 

 not been open to a detailed investigation. The contained fluid 

 is apparently serous in character. After the discharge of the 

 ova the remaining follicles are first filled with blood from the torn 

 vessels of the vesicle, and are subsequently transformed into the 

 so-called corpora lutea. The yellow color of these is owing to lipo- 

 chromes, or luteins, of which an amorphous and a crystalline form 

 may be isolated (see also page 429). 



The Ovum. Of the chemical composition of the ova of the 

 human being and mammals in general, nothing definite is known, 

 as it is impossible to collect them for purposes of analysis. The 

 eggs of fishes, amphibia, reptiles, and especially of birds, on the 



