Reproductive abnormalities in the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans orientalis Vanderplank, caused by a maternally acting toxicant in rabbit food

A laboratory colony of Glossina morsitans orientalis Vanderplank had been kept successfully in Edinburgh for 18 months, when reproduction ceased because of a high incidence of abortion and follicular degeneration. A comparison of these flies with imported Bristol-bred flies showed that the latter reproduced well under identical conditions, but since Edinburgh-bred progeny of imported flies also showed poor reproduction, a genetic difference between the two populations could be ruled out. Comparisons of the progeny of flies fed on human and rabbit blood, and of the progeny of flies fed on rabbits maintained on different diets, produced strong biological evidence for a toxicant in one of the diets which produced reproductive abnormalities in the Ft generation of flies. The trouble was thus traced to a change in rabbit diet which took place about a month before the appearance of the reproductive disorders. It is suggested that the toxicant, which remains unidentified, is concentrated by the parent female in the accessory gland secretion and thereby incorporated into larval tissues during intra-uterine development.

Seminal Fructose Concentration in Different Types of Azoospermia Cases

The results of biochemical and clinical investigations of a number of azoospermia cases are presented. It was found that serious testicular complaint is usually accompanied by a reduction in the volume and a disturbance in the concentration of the constituents of the accessory gland secretion.Statistical analysis of the fructose concentration indicated that the minimum fructose average was that of the Klinefelter.

The generative organs of the blow-fly, Calliphora erythrocephala L., with special reference to their musculature and movements

In Part I the musculature of the internal organs of the male blow-fly, C. erythrocephala, testis, vas efferens, accessory gland, vas deferens, and ejaculatory sac and duct, is described, together with the movements observed in them and the passage of secretions down the system. It is suggested that the testicular and accessory gland secretions are ejaculated separately. The musculature, mechanics and co-ordinated movements of the external organs and associated structures are also described.In Part II the generative organs of the female, except the ovaries, with special reference to their musculature and movements, and the musculature of the ovipositor are described and compared with those of M. domestica. It is suggested that the male accessory gland secretion is kept separate from the testicular secretion, the former passing into the lateral sacs of the female and the latter into the spermathecae.In Part III the relation of the parts of the two sexes during coitus is discussed.