The purpose of this study, suggested by Doctor bfeyer, was to determine the structure of the seminal vesicles of the guinea-pig in various states of secretory activity, to observe the effect of the secretion which they contain upon the other secretions and products of the male and female reproductive tracts, and to determine the extent of regeneration after total or partial removal of the vesicles.
Excellent opportunity was afforded me to do this work on the guinea-pig. The ease of taking care of these animals and the very large size of the seminal vesicles made them very suitable for the purpose. The vesicles are readily accessible through abdominal operation, which is fairly easy and rapid after the proper technique has been developed.
-4 series of forty guinea-pigs were operated upon and the vesicles removed under anesthesia through a median incision.
Three methods of removal were used. The first two were used on fifteen animals each, the third on ten. As the vesicles are long and loosely attached, they could be drawn out freely through the incision and dissected down to the ductus deferens in each case. I n the first group an absorbable catgut ligature was placed around both vesicles at this point. Another silk-thread ligature was then placed immediately proximal to the catgut ligature and the vesicle cut between the two ligatures.
In fifteen out of the thirty cases, both of the vesicles were removed in this way. In the other fifteen only the left vesicle 21.5