EMBRYONIC SURVIVAL SUBSEQUENT TO CULTURE OF RABBIT SPERMATOZOA AT 38 AND 40 C

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Abstract
Following a preliminary experiment, split ejaculates of rabbit semen, incubated for 3 hr at 38[degree] or 40[degree]C, were examined and inseminated separately into the uterine horns of rabbits mated 4 hr previously to vasectomized males. Eggs were recovered and examined for evidence of fertilization 30 hr post coitum. Following return of the eggs to the oviduct their survival was estimated by counting the implantation sites at 9 days post coitum. There was no evidence of any effect of treatment temperature on fertilizing capacity of semen, but embryonic survival rate was higher (75%) in horns inseminated with semen incubated at 38[degree]C than in those inseminated with semen incubated at 40[degree]C (53%). Neither fertilization rate nor embryonic survival rate was significantly correlated with semen quality.