A PRELIMINARY HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE INSEMINATION REACTION IN DROSOPHILA GIBBEROSA

Abstract

Normal matings and artificial insemination with various test solns. were made. The normal insemination reaction in the vagina consists of increase in size of the vagina, increase in volume of the epithelial cells, development of a dark reaction mass in the lumen of the vagina, increased density of the nuclei, and increased stainability of the cytoplasm. The change in volume of the epithelial cells is a common phenomenon in the functioning of arthropod epidermis, and in the vagina it may be produced by the appln. of hypertonic and hypotonic saline solns. Since the only breis which induced the insemination reactions were those containing testicular tissues, and since the sperm themselves seem not to be the causative agent, it is concluded that the reaction is induced by some component of the testes other than the sperm.