THE RATE OF SPERM PASSAGE INTO THE CERVIX AFTER COITUS IN THE RABBIT

J. M. BEDFORD

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0250211

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THE RATE OF SPERM PASSAGE INTO THE CERVIX AFTER COITUS IN THE RABBIT

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J. M. BEDFORD

J. M. BEDFORD
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DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0250211

Volume/Issue:: Volume 25: Issue 2

Page Range:: 211–218

Article Type:: Research Article

Online Publication Date:: May 1971

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Summary.

Fluids instilled into the rabbit vagina are prevented from passing further along the tract by the valve-like disposition of the uterine cervix. In the present study, vaginal spermatozoa were killed at 2 or 5 min after coitus by instillation of 12 to 16 ml of 1% lauryl sulphate (sodium dodecyl sulphate) into the anterior vagina. When the vaginal spermatozoa were killed 2 min after a single mating, only 25% of eggs were subsequently fertilized and there were essentially no accessory spermatozoa about the eggs. The fertilization rate was increased to 93%, with a mean of 6·6 perivitelline spermatozoa/egg when killing of the vaginal spermatozoa was delayed until 5 min after a single mating. Thus, in the rabbit, sufficient numbers of vaginal spermatozoa for normal fertility enter the cervix within 5 min after coitus.

Early passage of spermatozoa into the cervix was much enhanced by a second successive coital stimulus, since destruction of all vaginal spermatozoa only 2 min after double mating allowed a 90% fertilization rate and a mean of 5·5 perivitelline spermatozoa/egg. Comparable results were achieved even if the second intromission was accomplished by a vasectomized male, pointing to the importance of the second coital stimulus rather than of the greater sperm numbers provided by double mating.

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