Spermatophoric Mass of the Lobster — Matthews 
365 
Fig. 9. The enlarged vas deferens dissected along its hyaline line to show: a, continuous spermatophore; 
h, region occupied by matrix. (10 X) 
another continuous spermatophoric tube sur- 
rounded by its matrix, products of the oppo- 
site or left side of the reproductive system. 
DISCUSSION 
Since the spermatophoric mass is an ac- 
cumulation of materials derived from various 
regions of the male reproductive system, the 
specific contribution of each region will be 
discussed in its proper sequence. 
By mitotic division, the entire follicle be- 
comes filled with large, primary spermatocytes 
(Fig. 4^). Two processes become evident. 
From the peripheral layer of the epithelium 
(Fig. 5^) which lies adjacent to the tunica 
propria {a), deeply staining cells ic) appear 
which radiate toward the center of the follicle. 
At first these are few, some radiating in from 
one side and some from another. These in- 
a b c 
Fig. 10. Spermatophoric mass removed along with 
a portion of the female’s sternum. Right side only 
dissected to show: a, matrix; b, sternum; c, exposed 
black portion of mass; d, spermatophoric tube. (IX) 
crease in number without any definite order, 
creating a wheel-like appearance with the cells 
forming the "spokes.” Care should be exer- 
cised in interpreting these early stages because 
quite often, in sections cut at an angle, these 
cells appear at the center of the already filled 
follicle without any relationship to the 
epithelium from which they arise. Their at- 
tached, proximal regions, therefore, would 
not be evident. Older follicles show these 
spokes thickened and, at first sight, contain- 
ing many nuclei. In reality any one spoke is 
composed of many cells, closely packed to- 
gether, all radiating toward the center of the 
follicle. The nuclei, which average 1 1 microns 
long and 5 microns wide, are smaller than 
those of the spermatocyte and more ovoid. 
These nuclei often appear notched and con- 
tain large, deeply staining granules. The 
reticular, fibrillar nature of the cytoplasm of 
these cells makes identification of individual 
cells exceedingly difficult. It should be men- 
tioned that the sections, cut between 5 and 
10 microns for routine investigation, are much 
too thick and too crudely stained for accurate 
interpretations of the cells. They appear to be 
Sertoli cells that have actually fused to form 
a syncytium. This cannot be determined, 
however, until a more suitable technique is 
employed. 
Meanwhile, the second process becomes 
evident as some of the primary spermatocytes 
{d) undergo two successive divisions, the first 
