FERTILITY AND SPERM TRANSPORT IN MERINO EWES AT THE FIRST OESTRUS FOLLOWING EMBRYONIC DEATH

Autor: EDEY, T. N., THWAITES, C. J., PIGOTT, F. A., O'SHEA, T.
Zdroj: Reproduction; June 1975, Vol. 43 Issue: 3 p485-494, 10p
Abstrakt: The embryos of ewes were killed with colchicine on Day 17 of gestation and the ewes were mated at the subsequent oestrus. Fertility was reduced at this mating, and fewer spermatozoa were found in the uterus and oviducts than in control animals. The total number of spermatozoa in the cervix and their distribution between the lumen and walls of the cervix were not altered, but the linear distribution along the cervical walls was changed. The density of the remaining spermatozoa in the control animals after flushing of the cervix showed a progressive decrease from the posterior to the anterior segments. This did not occur in the untreated ewes. It seems likely that impaired sperm transport contributed to the lowered fertility.
Databáze: Supplemental Index