Spermatozoa in the Genital Tract of the Ewe III. The Role of Spermatozoan Motility and of Uterine Contractions in Transport

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Abstract
Laparotomy was performed on 28 oestrous ewes and either live or dead spermatozoa were deposited in the fallopian tubes or in one uterine horn. Dead spermatozoa appeared to be transported from the cranial extremity of one uterine horn to the body of the uterus and into the contralateral uterine horn as readily as were live spermatozoa but did not pass from the uterus to the fallopian tubes as freely as did the latter. Live spermatozoa passed from the uterus into the cervical canal more freely than did dead spermatozoa but only a small number, relative to the number present in the uterus, was recovered from the caudal portion of the cervix. After spermatozoa were deposited in both fallopian tubes, small numbers were recovered from the uteri when live (but not dead) spermatozoa were introduced. The importance of the cervix and the uterotubal junction in limiting the number of spermatozoa that pass in either direction is discussed in relation to the continuity of transport from the cervix to the fallopian tubes in the vaginally inseminated ewe. Observations on the survival of spermatozoa in the uterus and fallopian tubes are also presented.

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