INFILTRATION OF LEUCOCYTES INTO THE UTERINE LUMEN OF THE GOLDEN HAMSTER DURING THE OESTROUS CYCLE AND FOLLOWING MATING

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Abstract
In the uterine lumen of the unmated golden hamster, the highest number of leucocytes (average 308,000 in one uterine horn) appeared soon after oestrus or at the early stage of metoestrus. Following mating with a fertile male, the highest number of leucocytes (average 1,497,000) was found 12 to 14 hr after mating, i.e. about 6 hr earlier than in the unmated female. The principal cause of the acceleration of leucocyte infiltration following mating is neither the stimulation of the cervix and vagina nor the distension of the uterine wall with fluid, but the presence of semen itself, especially of large numbers of spermatozoa in the uterus. The rapid disappearance of spermatozoa from the uterus on the 1st day following mating is ascribed to the phagocytotic action of leucocytes and drainage through the cervix.