A New Translation and Reader's Guide to the First Manuscript Published by Adolph von La Valette-St. George on Vertebrate Spermatogenesis.

This manuscript was originally written in German by one of the founding members of the field of spermatogenesis, Dr. Adolph von La Valette-St. George. Published in 1865, this important work carefully described, using samples from a wide variety of vertebrate species, essential aspects of male germ cells including the acrosome, the residual body of shed excess spermatid cytoplasm, and the flagellum. In addition, he correctly deduced that sperm formed from precursor germ cells rather than somatic cells and that their motility was due to movement of the flagellum. Here, we present an English translation and modern interpretation of one of Dr. La Valette-St. George's most important contributions from his lengthy productive academic career.