

HUMAN SPERMATOGENESIS, SPERMATOCYTES AND 

 SPERMIOGENESIS : A STUDY OF INHERITANCE. 



By Thomas H. Montgomery, Jr., Ph.D. 



PAGE. 



Introduction 3 



I. The Spermatocytes and their Divisions 4 



A. Observations 4 



1. Primary spermatocytes 4 



2. Secondary spermatocytes 6 



B. Discussion 8 



II. Spermiogenesis 13 



A. Observations 13 



1 . Nuclear changes and formation of the cuff 13 



2. Centrioles, flagellum, cytoplasmic structures 14 



3. The ripe spermatozoa 17 



B. Discussion 18 



Literature List 



20 



Explanation of Plates 22 



Introduction. 



It is remarkable that human spermatogenesis has never been thoroughly 

 studied, and that the literature upon it consists chiefly of scattered small con- 

 tributions, many of ancient date. The mature spermatozoa have been repeatedly 

 investigated and with great care, but the earlier stages have for the most part 

 been only briefly treated. Yet it is necessary to understand these processes in 

 order to secure a mechanical basis for our knowledge of human inheritance. 



The material studied consisted of pieces of the testis, epididymis and vas 

 deferens of a negro, preserved in Zenker's fluid shortly after the man's death, 

 by Dr. W. H. F. Addison, of the University of Pennsylvania. I am exceedingly 

 obliged to this gentleman for the gift of such valuable material. According to 

 the records of Dr. Addison, and of Dr. Hewson, Secretary of the Anatomical Board 

 of the State of Pennsylvania, the man was " very black," healthy, aged about 50, 

 hung by law 26 Feb., 1907, with the Moyamensing Prison number 205 A.B. 

 The fixation of this material was on the whole excellent, except that cytoplasmic 

 details were not as well preserved as one generally finds in material preserved 

 in Fleming's fluid; unfortunately the mitochondria were dissolved. In addition 

 to this, Prof. Guyer most generously gave me portions from the testis of another 

 negro, in which he had discovered the modified chromosomes, these pieces being 

 fixed in the fluids of Gilson and Bouin. Almost all my observations were made 







