Spermatophoric Mass of the Rock Lobster — Matthews 
31 
fore invaluable in. discerning the effects of 
contractions in the unaltered vas deferens. 
Figure 2 illustrates the results of immersing 
a small portion of the testis and the proximal 
region of the vas deferens in toluidin blue. 
Here the thin wall of the vas deferens (/) 
affords rapid penetration of the stain, and the 
absence of the matrix (Fig. 10c) makes clear 
the developing spermatophore. The undiffer- 
entiated spermatogenic -substance (Fig. 2b) 
is seen as it enters the vas deferens. As it 
traverses the vas deferens, this undifferentiated 
spermatogenic substance becomes moniliform 
(c) and, acquiring a capsule {d), separates 
into distinct ampullae {e). 
a h 
Fig. 5. Diagram of a dissected portion of the vas 
deferens immediately distal to the region illustrated in 
Figure 4, showing the results of immersion technique. 
a, Widely separated encapsulated' ampullae; b, highly 
twisted, ribbon-like sheath. (15 X.) 
Figure 3 illustrates the results of the im- 
mersion technique on a small portion of the 
vas deferens immediately distal to the region 
illustrated in Figure 2. A new sheath {a) now 
envelops the already encapsulated ampullae 
and occupies the space between successive 
ampullae {b ) . 
The results of the immersion technique on 
a small portion of the vas deferens immedi- 
ately distal to the region illustrated in Figure 
3 are shown in Figure 4. The successive am- 
pullae {a) are now more widely separated. 
The sheath {b) which envelopes the already 
encapsulated ampullae is thin and between 
successive ampullae is now ribbon-like (b^). 
In the distal portion of this region the ribbon- 
like sheath connecting successive ampullae 
is twisted (c). 
Figure 5 is a diagram of a dissected portion 
of the vas deferens immediately distal to Fig- 
ure 4. The ampullae {a) are widely separated 
Fig. 6. Diagram of a dissected portion of the vas 
deferens distal to the region illustrated in Figure 5. 
a, "Elevated” ampullae; b, entwined, twisted ribbons. 
(15X.) 
and the connecting sheath (b) is more highly 
twisted. 
A diagram (Fig. 6) of a dissected portion 
of the vas deferens distal to Figure 5 shows 
the ampullae {a) less widely separated and 
"elevated” by the entwining of their already 
twisted connecting sheaths {b). 
Serial sections substantiate what vital stain- 
ing has so far revealed and enable one to 
determine the origin of the various secretions. 
Figure 7 is a cross section through the vas 
deferens in the region indicated by b of Figure 
2. The undifferentiated spermatogenic mass 
{a) occupies the almost circular lumen (b). 
The wall of the vas deferens is here composed 
Fig. 7. A cross section through the vas deferens in 
the region indicated by b of Figure 2. a. Undifferen- 
tiated spermatogenic mass; b, circular lumen; c, wall 
of vas deferens; d, epithelial layer. (134X.) 
