Cowper's Gland as a Testis Hormone Indicator. ∗

Abstract

Studies on the physiology of the internal secretion of the mammalian testis have been hampered by the lack of standard, easily read, and reliable hormone indicators. Moore, 1 , 2 Moore and Gallagher, 3 Moore, Price, and Gallagher, 4 and Moore, Hughes, and Gallagher 5 have used 4 methods of hormone assay on the rat and guinea pig, the spermatozoan motility test, the electric ejaculation test, and the cytological changes that occur in the rat seminal vesicles and prostate gland following castration and also following injections of hormone samples.

In the process of isolating a hormone, there is always the possibility of there being more than one active principle. Therefore it is necessary to study all possible effects of the hormone. This study of Cowper's gland was undertaken to note its relation to the male sex hormone, and to ascertain whether it could be used as an efficient hormone indicator. This problem was suggested by Dr. Carl R. Moore, and is continuing under his guidance.

Over a period of 2 years, 175 white rats and guinea pigs have been utilized. A large number of fixatives have been tried; those most generally used being either Bouin's or Zenker-Formol for histological purposes, and the Mann-Kopsch fixation for the preservation of the Golgi material. Ehrlich's haematoxylin and eosin was the standard stain employed.

Castration of the adult animal has a marked effect on Cowper's gland. In the rat, a noticeable change is seen in 10 days and becomes very marked at 20 days; while in the guinea pig the effect is not clearly seen until about 50 days after the operation. The epithelium of both the rat and guinea pig Cowper's becomes very low.