FERTILIZATION AND THE TRANSPORT OF GAMETES IN THE PSEUDOPREGNANT RABBIT

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Abstract
Artificial insemination does not result in the fertilization of eggs obtained by induced ovulation in the pseudo pregnant rabbit, although at least a proportion of the eggs are fertilizable. The reason for this failure appears to be due in part to the ascent of too small a number of sperms into the oviducts and in part to unfavorable conditions existing in the pseudo pregnant tube. Fertilized eggs introduced into the tubes of psuedo pregnant rabbits will continue development to the blastocyst stage, but are not transported into the uterus. Similarly, eggs introduced into the tubes of estrous rabbits in which luteal growth has not been initiated, do not usually leave the tube. It is only in those animals with newly formed corpora lutea that tubal transport of eggs is normal. These results emphasize the importance of the balance between estrogen and progesterone in controlling the transport of gametes.
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