Gatknby- — Notes on the Human Ovary. 87 



Addendum [Fehruary, 1924(. 'I'he wall of the ripe human Graafian follicle, 

 by Da Fano's method, exhibits a layer of densely blacked cells which are 

 theca interna elements, and which undoubtedly give rise to the stellate 

 elements of the corpus luteum. From my small quantity of sow corpora 

 lutea, recently prepared by Da Fano's method, it appears that Corner is only 

 partly correct in claiming for this animal that the theca interna cells often 

 closely approximate to the luteal cells. This statement is provisional and 

 must be confirmed by the examination of a larger series of stages. 



IX. — SUMMAKY. 



1. A human corpus luteum of menstruation is described from two to 

 three weeks old. It was cut in half, one moiety being treated by Da Fano's 

 method, the other by Kegaud-Schridde. 



2. The histological examination revealed a peculiar type of cell called the 

 stellate chromophil cell. These cells have probably been described in the sow 

 by Corner under the names " additional cell, type 2 " and " spindle cells," and 

 recent work (February, 1924) has shown them to be theca interna elements. 



3. These cells are extremely numerous in parts of the human corpus 

 luteum, and are characterized by the fact that they stain heavily in Mann's 

 methyl blue eosin, impregnate densely in reduced silver, and stain intensely in 

 iron haematoxylin after ordinary fixation. These cells contain granules 

 which blacken in osmic acid. Their Golgi apparatus is condensed, solid- 

 looking, and may occasionally lie partly within one of the cell processes. 

 The nucleus of these cells is markedly excentric and oxyphil in nearly all 

 cases. The normal tissue elements which most closely resemble these cells 

 are the clasmatocytes of areolar connective tissue. 



4. The Golgi apparatus of the human corpus luteum is described for the 

 first time, and it is concluded that the so-called lutein granules are not true 

 fat, but are probably lipin in nature. 



5. The coagulate in the non-fibrosed centre of the corpus luteum is 

 mentioned in connexion with Van der Stricht's theory of serous secretion. 



6. Possible criteria for distinguishing cytologically the corpus luteum of 

 pregnancy from that of menstruation are given. 



7. The various other cell elements of the human corpus luteum are 

 described. 



8. It is suggested that the lutein granules are swollen mitochondria 

 loaded with lipoid and some form of lipochrome. 



9. Attention is drawn to the work of Edgar Allen and Edward Doisy on 

 an ovarian hormone. This work has special bearing on certain hitherto 

 unsolved problems of the oestrus cycle. 



