On the structure and function of the prostate gland in the red fox / by C.W.G. Rohrer.

  • Rohrer, C. W. G. (Caleb Wyand Geeting), 1873-1952.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the structure and function of the prostate gland in the red fox / by C.W.G. Rohrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    tained therein. A few round cells, a few oval cells, and a few spindle-shaped cells constitute the cellular elements of the submucosa. The middle or muscular layer, really the third layer from the interior of the vas, is b}' far the most conspicuous. There is a consid- erable amount of connective tissue in this mid- dle or muscular coat, and also a few elastic fibres—an intimate structure at one and 'the same time ensuring strength, firmness, and contractile powers. Its biplex function is therefore indicated: a. As a conduit or duct for the transmission of the testicular secretion plus that elaborated (minute though it be) by the ampullar glands. b. Its power as a propulsive organ, by virtue of its rhythmical contractility. Figure 17. Distended acini and prostatic cap- sule. Prostate gland of red fox. To be brief; The vas deferens serves as a conduit or duct and also as a propelling organ. This calls forth an interesting feature in the comparative physiology of the vasa deferentia. In many invertebrate animals the mucous membrane is possessed of a ciliated epithelium, and hence the sperms are largely transmitted by means of ciliary motion. This condition also obtains in some of the lowest verte- brates. In the higher animals, including man, this purpose is accomplished by muscular con- traction rhythmical in character. The muscular layer of the vas deferens in the red fox is composed of smooth muscle ex- clusively, that is, so far' as its muscular ele- ments are concerned. The bundles of smooth muscle fibres are very intricately mixed, there being no arrangement in definite layers. At a more remote distance from the prostate the vas consists of two muscular layers: a. An outer circular layer. b. An inner longitudinal layer. The outer or fibrous coat of the terminal portion of the vas deferens in the red fox consists of a delicate layer of fibro- areolar tissue containing blood - vessels and nerves in its meshes. Each vas deferens is accompanied by one large nerve-trunk. These nerve-trunks contain exceptionally large cells resembling ganglion cells. They lie exter- nal to the deferential tube. Section No. 697.—Posterior transverse sec- tion of prostate gland one-fourth inch inch) from vesical neck. Here we behold the prostate gland of the red fox in all its beauty of histological structure. It is an organ com- posed of three-fourth glandular tissue and one-fourth muscular tissue—the reverse of what we find in the human prostate gland. Resolved into its principal component elements the fox's prostate consists of: a. Glandular tissue. b. Smooth muscle. c. Erectile tissue. d. Capsule and sheath. e. Blood-vessels and nerves. f. Urethral canal. The prostate gland in the red fox is a com- pound tubular gland of the mucous type. Like the human gland its posterior part is peculiarly rich in glandular tissue. The acini are lined with columnar epithelium consisting of a sin- gle layer of cells set directly upon the frame- work of the gland, there being no membrane propria or basement membrane interposed. The epithelial cells are tall, their protoplasm is clear and finely granular, and the nuclei have a very noticeable basal arrangement. Thus the epithelial cells in the acini of the fox’s prostate possess the three main characteristics of mucous glands: a. The protoplasm is clear. b. The nuclei lie at the bases of the cells. c. The cells are tall and columnar-like. This part of the prostate is largely made up of glandular tissue. The acini or gland- spaces, with their ducts, are clearly and char- acteristically shown. The ducts converge to- ward the prostatic urethra, into which they open. The epithelium lining the prostatic ducts is cuboidal and stratified, closely resembling (probably an extension of) that found in the urethra. Besides its epithelial lining, each acinus has a framework of smooth muscular tissue. Towards the periphery of this speci- men the acini are dilated and filled with nor- mal mucus, giving to it an appearance resemb- ling normal thyroid gland. The framework of the fox’s prostate is