CHANGES IN THE OVARY 143 



to form a central plug in whicli there are no luteal cells. This 

 connective tissue contains numerous blood-vessels, so that the 

 fully developed corpus luteum is a highly vascular structure. 



Three hypotheses have been put forward regarding the 

 manner of formation of the corpus luteum. That of Paterson,^ 

 who supposed it to be derived from the blood coagulum left in 

 the cavity of the Graafian foUicle after its discharge, gained few 

 or no adherents. The other two theories, those of von Baer ^ 

 and Bischofl,^ on the other hand, have each received consider- 

 able support. 



Von Baer regarded the corpus luteum as an entirely con- 

 nective tissue structure, in the origin of which the follicular 

 epithelium had no share ; while Bischoff concluded that the 

 luteal cells were formed by the hypertrophy of the epithehal 

 cells of the undischarged Graafian folhcle. Among the ^principal 

 supporters of Von Baer's view appear the names of Leuckart, 

 His, Kolliker, Slavjansky, Gegenbaur, Bencldser, Schottlander, 

 and Minot. Those who have adopted the alternative theory of 

 Bischofi include Pfliiger, Waldeyer, CiU and Exner, Beigel and 

 Schuhn.* 



To Sobotta ® belongs the credit of being the first to deal 

 systematically with the question, and, with the pubhcation of 

 his papers on the corpus luteum in the mouse, the controversy 

 entered upon a new phase. In Sobotta's investigation the 

 material employed was collected upon a definite plan, the 

 animals being killed at known intervals after coition, in re- 

 ference to the occurrence of which the period of ovulation had 

 been previously determined. In this way there was obtained 

 a large series of corpora lutea representing successive stages of 

 development. The investigation resulted in confirming Bischoff's 



' Paterson, " Observations on Corpora Lutea," Edinburgh Med. and Surg. 

 Jour., 1840. 



' Von Baer, Be Ovi Mammalium et Hominis Genesi Epislola, Lipsise, 

 1827. 



' Bischoff, Entwickelimgsgesckichte des Kanincheneies, Braunschweig, 1842. 



■* For an account of the older literature of the subject see Sobotta, " Uber 

 die Entstehung des Corpus Luteum der Saugethiere," Merkel and Bonnet's 

 Ergebnisse der Anat. u. Entwich., vol. viii., 1899. 



' Sobotta, " Uber die Bildung des Corpus Luteum bei der Maas," Anat. 

 Anz., vol. X., 1895 ; and Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., vol. xlvii., 1896. 



