INTERNAL SECRETION BY THE TESTES AND OVARIES 391 



other organs, although they led at first to certain therapeutic extrava- 

 gancies. It is not to be understood, however, from this comment, that 

 future researches may not show important functions belonging to the 

 sexual organs, in addition to their well-known action in reproduction. 



As regards the ovaries, it has been conjectured that they have an 

 internal secretion which may have a general influence on the organism ; 

 but although ovariectomy has lately become frequent, sufficient time has 

 not elapsed to warrant definite conclusions concerning the remote effects 

 of this operation. The testicles present a vascular areolar tissue which 

 passes from the fibrous structure between the seminiferous tubes. In 

 this tissue are cytoplasmic cells with some fatty and pigmentary gran- 

 ules ; and this structure is now called the interstitial gland of the testis. 

 Some late researches seem to show that these cells have a function 

 resembling internal secretion ; but their action is obscure, and it has not 

 been shown that they furnish an extract producing any well-defined 

 results when administered by subcutaneous injection or by the mouth. 



Internal secretion by the pancreas and kidneys has already been 

 considered in connection with the other and more familiar functions of 

 these organs. 



