Internal secretion and the ductless glands / by Swale Vincent ; with a preface by E. A. Schäfer.

  • Vincent, Swale, 1868-1933.
Date:
1912
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Internal secretion and the ductless glands / by Swale Vincent ; with a preface by E. A. Schäfer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    not adopt this theory. There is no need to enumerate the authors who have held one or the other view on this question. An admirable account of the history of the controversy is given by Marshall (240) and by Clark (57, 58). There is a tendency towards a compromise in some of the recent papers. Thus, van der Stricht (357, 358) found that, whereas the majority of the luteal cells are derived from the follicular epithelium, a certain number are developed out of inter- stitial cells in the inner theca of the connective-tissue sheath. As pointed out by Marshall (240), this is of special interest in view of the statement made by Miss Lane-Claypon (198) that the follicle and interstitial cells have an identical origin, since both are derived from the germinal epithelium, and pass through a similar series of changes. The majority of recent investigators are, however, in favour of the view that the luteal cells are derived from the follicular cells. The glandular nature of the organ is admirably shown in the corpus luteum of Dasyurus (see Figs. 13 and 14). The idea that the corpus luteum might be an organ with an internal secretion was first conceived by Gustav Born, who suggested that the function of the internal secretion was to subserve the fixation and development of the im- pregnated ovum in the uterus. Born did not publish his views, but bequeathed the idea to Fraenkel to work out. This author (112, 113) believes that not only does the corpus luteum minister to the special needs of the gravid uterus, but that upon its secretory activity depends also the occurrence of the oestrous cycle. The arguments put forward are not entirely satisfactory, and it is not easy to see how this author would explain the occurrence of the first oestrus in young animals (Marshall, 238). The theory that the corpus luteum is a gland with an internal secretion has also been brought forward by Prenant (303). This writer points out that its morphological and histological characters are those of a glandular apparatus without a duct, and that the cells of the corpus luteum elaborate material in their interior, as has recently been more fully described by Regaud and Policard (307, 308). Prenant believes that the purpose of the corpus luteum is probably to prevent ovulation in the period between successive oestrous