402 



Scientific Proceedings (124). 



quently presents a cystic condition. The cysts are the result 

 of a proliferation of the cuboidal epithelium which lines the epi- 

 didymal portions of the embryonic Wolffian duct. The epididy- 

 mal tubules are located towards one pole of the ovary and are 

 connected with similar tubules lying outside the body of the ovary 

 between it and the oviduct. 



Under certain conditions the walls of these blind tubules begin 

 to proliferate, apparently forming a number of new tubules. A 

 fluid accumulates* in the interior of the tubules and distends them 

 into spheroidal shapes. They become greatly distended and break 

 into one another or fuse, thus forming large "ovarian cysts" in 

 the case of those tubules lying within the ovary or "parovarian 

 cysts" in the tubules lying outside. 



Thus the ovarian and parovarian cysts are similar in struc- 

 ture and their formation is of the nature of a tumor-like growth 

 of the cuboidal epithelium which lines them. The accumulation 

 of fluid which is essential to the formation of typical cysts is not 

 to be considered their primary cause. 



In studying a great many ovaries for cystic conditions during 

 several years we have never observed a follicular cyst. Large 

 atretic follicles may be confused at times with small cysts, but 

 such follicles always begin to disappear or atrophy before attain- 

 ing significant dimensions. 



The uterine glands occasionally become cystic. Such cysts 

 usually break into the lumen of the uterus when their epithelial 

 lining becomes greatly distended. These are similar to the ovarian 

 cysts in that both occur under identical conditions in tubules lined 

 by epithelium. The fact that the uterine glands open directly into 

 the lumen of the uterus makes the occurrence of such cysts excep- 

 tional. 



200 (1947) 



Experimental results bearing on the etiology of cystic growths in 

 the ovary and uterus of the guinea pig. 



By G. N. PAPANICOLAOU and C R. STOCKARD. 



[From the Department of Anatomy, Cornell University Medical Col- 

 lege, New York City.] 



In experiments on underfeeding it was found that malnutri- 

 tion readily gave rise to marked cystic conditions in the ovaries 



