REVIEW ARTICLE: Mechanism of Prolonged Sperm Storage and Sperm Survivability in Hen Oviduct: A Review

Abstract

A unique property of the avian oviduct is to store sperm for a prolonged period. The sperm storage tubules (SST) are located in the utero‐vaginal junction of the oviduct, where sperm can be stored and survived for a few weeks after insemination or natural mating. The immune system in the oviduct is essential to prevent tissue infection by various microorganisms, and it may also affect the fate and survivability of sperm in the oviduct. Anti‐sperm immunoresponses including infiltration of leukocytes may be induced in the vagina of the oviduct. Sperm that will participate in fertilization may be selected by these immunoresponses. However, sperm stored in the SST may be protected from the immunoresponse by SST structures and transforming growth factor β, whose expression is increased during sperm storage in the SST. In this review, the mechanism of sperm survivability with reference to the regulation of anti‐sperm immunoresponses in hen oviduct is emphasized.

PHYSIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Role of the oviduct in maintaining sustained fertility in hens1

“…Given the immunosuppressive properties of TGF-β, and that lymphocytes in the UVJ mucosa possess TβR, Das et al (2006a) suggested that TGF-β may suppress immune responses to resident sperm in the SST by UVJ lymphocytes. Das et al (2008) concluded that this suppression of UVJ lymphocytes by TGF-β may contribute to successful sperm storage in the SST.…”

“…Of interest is that the numbers of immunocompetent cells associated with acquired immunity are greater in laying than nonlaying hens and the observation that this has also been associated with increased concentrations of estrogen (Zheng et al, 1998). In their review, Das et al (2008) indicated that the storage of sperm in the SST necessitates an immunosuppression of sperm antigenicity. Using a low fertility line of hens subjected to repeated inseminations, Das et al (2005b) observed swollen SST lacking resident sperm and lymphocyte infiltration of the SST.…”

“…In the past decade, there has been a resurgence of studies addressing the role of the immune system in the oviduct of the hen with respect to reproductive function (see review by Das et al, 2008). Classes of immunocompetent cells (i.e., macrophages, antigen-presenting cells expressing MHC class II, CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, premature B cells, and plasma cells) and cell products associated with both acquired (Zheng et al, 1998;Zheng and Yoshimura, 1999) and innate immunity (i.e., avian β-defensins; Abdel-Mageed et al, 2008) are expressed within the oviductal mucosa, particularly in the vagina ( Figure 2C).…”

Seminal Influence of the Oviduct : Mating and/or semen components induce gene expression changes in the pre-ovulatory functional sperm reservoir in poultry and pigs

“…The expression of local innate immunity between poultry and pig internal genitalia is of comparative interest (Das et al, 2008;Rodriguez-Martinez et al, 2009). Japanese quails have shown increased heterophil counts in their vagina and UVJ up to three hours after copulation (Higaki et al, 1995), similarly to the response seen in pigs (see above).…”

“…Semen deposition elicits gene expression shifts in the female genital tract in mouse (Fazeli et al, 2004) and chicken (Das et al, 2006;Das et al, 2008Das et al, & 2009. This further calls for the identification of the pertinent signals involved, including components of the SF/SP-proteome that could be related to sperm survival and immunomodulation.…”