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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    No. 696. Va.sa on entering prostate; almost united. No. 697. Posterior transverse section of prostate gland one-fourth inch from vesical neck. No. 698. Posterior extremity of prostate gland, transverse section of entire gland. No. 699. Transverse section, middle of gland. No. 700. Transverse section, anterior part of gland. Each of these five sections of the red fox’s prostate will now be described seriatim. Section No. 696.—Vasa on entering pros- tate ; almost united. In this paper I have included a description of the vasa deferentia at their point of en- trance into the prostate gland. Here the vasa very closely approximate each other. It has been deemed j)rudent to incorporate this anat- a muscularis mucosae, and the submucous layer is much attenuated. The lumen of the vas deferens is quite small. The mucous membrane is rugous and folded, thus ensuring great surface but small area. The ampullar glands though but slight- ly developed, encroach considerably upon this small lumen. The mucous membrane is cov- ered by a stratified epithelium of the colum- nar type. Many of the cells are granular in appearance. This granular appearance of the cell-protoplasm is probably due to increased sexual activity, the animal having been killed at or near the mating season of the fox. The epithelium lining the ampullar glands is cu- boidal and, like the epithelium of the mucosa, also shows granulations. The nuclei are rela- tively large and centrally located. The am- pullar epithelium really resembles that of the human prostate gland. The ampullar glands Figure 15. Cross section, entire prostate of red fox, anterior part. Isolated gland acini to the right of urethra. omical structure in the present instance, in order to portray the ampullar (sometimes called ampullary) glands and dilate upon theic significance. The vasa deferentia in the red fox, in the human being these ducts would here be styled the ejaculatory ducts or common ejaculatory ducts at their point of entrance into the pros- tate gland present a characteristic ai>pearance. Their histological structure may he resolved into four (4) coats or layers: 1. An inner or mucous coat. 2. A submucous coat. 3. A middle or muscular coat. 4. .\n outer or fibrous coat. The mucous coat and the muscular coat are the most conspicuous layers. The fibrous coat is delicate. There can scarcely be said to be Figure 16. Isolated gland acini under high power. Prostate gland of red fox. a. Isolated acini, h. Chromaffin cells, c. Coagulated secretion. Note. These isolated gland acini, ductless and surrounded by an abundant blood- supply, probably functionate as a “gland with internal secretion.” have a supporting framework of loosely ar- ranged connective tissue containing a few elongated cells. This framework is not very elaborate. The middle or muscular coat and the sub- mucous coat could with propriety be described as one. For the sake of clearness I shall sepa- rate them and first describe the submucous coat or layer. This is somewhat attenuated. Made up of a mere vestige of loosely arranged connective tissue, its ])rolongations and folds jut into the lumen of the vas and thus aflford substantial support to the mucous glands con-