Sperm Survival and Transport in the Female Reproductive Tract

Hawk, H. W.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(83)82138-9

Cited by 202 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…In the ewe, by analysing the AI operation gesture step-by-step, it appeared that both introduction and opening of the speculum in the vagina, then searching of the cervical canal for the correct site of semen deposition evoked autonomic nerve-mediated uterine contractions that considerably differed from the normal motor pattern observed during natural mating (Raynal and Houdeau, 2004). In domestic mammals and humans, sperm transit towards the oviducts occurs rapidly after mating Cooper, 1978a and1978b;Hawk, 1983;Kunz et al, 1996), and is thought to be the result of spontaneous contractions that facilitate the transport of spermatozoa along the uterine horns (Hawk, 1983;Kunz and Leyendecker, 2002;Suarez and Pacey, 2006). Studies in sows, ewes and women suggest that stimulation of contractions or abnormal propagation of contractions along the uterus may increase the reflux of semen and/or impair the passive infusion of semen from the cervix towards the uterine lumen (Zerobin and Spö rri, 1972;Leyendecker et al, 1996;Langendijk et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-duration insemination with frozen semen increases fertility rate in nulliparous dairy goats

Houdeau¹,

Furstoss²,

Forgerit³

et al. 2008

Animal

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Standard artificial insemination (AI) using a speculum in dairy goats does not result in acceptable fertility rates in nulliparous does. An explanation might be the difficulties to pass the cervical canal in nulliparous females with the insemination gun, increasing the time needed for semen deposition. Nulliparous Alpine dairy goats were used to evaluate whether time interval from insertion to withdrawal of the speculum is a factor influencing pregnancy rates to first AI with frozenthawed semen. Oestrus was synchronized using fluorogestone acetate intravaginal sponges (FGA, 40 mg) for 11 days, associated with 50 mg i.m. of cloprostenol and 250 IU i.m. eCG 48 6 2 h before sponge removal. In the first experiment (n 5 52; 3 herds), the average duration of the AI procedure was 42 6 10 s, with a median of 39 s. AI performed in less than 39 s resulted in higher pregnancy rates (75%, n 5 28) than AI lasting for more than 39 s (46%, n 5 24). In the second experiment, does (n 5 325; 5 herds) were randomly assigned into two treatment groups according to a short (20 s) or long (60 s) AI procedure. We showed that the duration of AI affected fertility after a first insemination, and that pregnancy rate was significantly improved using a shortduration AI (61.2%; n 5 169) compared with a long-duration AI (44.2%; n 5 156). We have previously shown in the ewe that genital stimulation during AI enhanced uterine motility. Other authors reported a negative correlation between increased uterine motility at the time of AI and fertility rates in small ruminants. The results of this study suggest that rapid semen deposition may limit the reflex activation of uterine contractions provoked by the speculum and the movement of the insemination gun, and thus ameliorates reproductive performance to first AI in nulliparous goats.Keywords: goat, nulliparous, artificial insemination, fertility, uterus IntroductionArtificial insemination (AI) in dairy goats is less commonly used than in other domestic animals. Nevertheless, the number of does inseminated has progressively increased during the last two decades, encouraged by sanitary reasons and by the introduction of genetic selection in breeding programmes (Ponsart et al., 2004;Verberckmoes et al., 2004). Both multiparous and nulliparous goats are used in AI programmes but fertility in nulliparous does is currently limited, being irregular and low compared with multiparous females (Leboeuf et al., 1998), often leading breeders to prefer natural mating for first conceptions. A recent study in nulliparous dairy heifers emphasized that most variations in conception rates was attributable to oestrus detection, pelvic size and breeding season (Donovan et al., 2003). The farm, the inseminator and semen deposition site also contributed to variations of fertility in ruminants (Ron et al., 1984;Donovan et al., 2004;Verberckmoes et al., 2004;Paulenz et al., 2005). In goats, a recent report by Salvador et al. (2005) clearly indicated that the depth of semen deposition is a determining factor for pregnancy...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-duration insemination with frozen semen increases fertility rate in nulliparous dairy goats

Houdeau¹,

Furstoss²,

Forgerit³

et al. 2008

Animal

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“…In addition, these usage areas of the endogenous PGF 2α have been shown as an essential part of ovulation process (Armstrong, 1981;Algire et al, 1992;Neglia et al, 2008), and has been known that the increase of uterine and oviductal contractility (Hawk, 1983) affects the sperm transport. There are few studies focused on the effect of PGF 2α administration at the time of AI on pregnancy (Lopez-Gatius et al, 2004;Neglia et al, 2008).…”

Section: Effects Of Gnrhmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of GnRH, PGF<sub>2α</sub> and oxytocin treatments on conception rate at the time of artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows

Gümen¹,

Keskin²,

Yılmazbaş-Meci̇toğlu³

et al. 2011

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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AbstRAct:In several studies, hormones such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), prostaglandins and oxytocin were used to increase pregnancy rate by inducing ovulation and improving the sperm transport in the female reproductive tract in lactating dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of GnRH, prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) and oxytocin treatments at the time of artificial insemination (AI) after spontaneous oestrus on the conception rate (CR) of lactating dairy cows. Oestrus was detected by visual observations by experienced personnel. All cows (n = 430, 308 Holstein-Frisian and 122 SwedishRed dairy cows) were inseminated based on the am/pm rule by veterinarians of the farm. After AI, cows were alternately assigned to one of the four treatment groups: (1) GnRH (n = 113); (2) PGF 2α (n = 106); (3) oxytocin (n = 106) and (4) non-treated control (n = 105). Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 28-34 and 58-64 days post-insemination by transrectal ultrasonography. Conception rates on days 28-34 and 58-64 were not different among GnRH (46.0%; 52/113 and 44.3%; 50/113), PGF 2α (37.7%; 40/106 and 35.9%; 38/106) and control (49.5%; 52/105 and 47.6%; 50/105) groups. However, conception rates were lower (P = 0.02) in oxytocin (31.1%; 33/106 and 30.2%; 32/106) than in GnRH and control groups on days 28-34 and 58-64. Other covariant factors, such as milk production, days in milk (DIM), breed, parity, service number did not affect the conception rate. Thus, there were no beneficial effects of treatments with GnRH and PGF 2α at the time of AI, and oxytocin had an adverse effect on CR in lactating dairy cows in this study.

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“…Despite the importance of sperm transport to the issues of fertility and infertility, our understanding of this process is incomplete (Kelly, 1962;Fox & Fox, 1967; Moghissi, 1969;Hafez, 1973; Settlage, Motoshima & Tredway, 1973; Viring, Einarsson, Jones & Larsson, 1980;Overstreet & Tom, 1982;Hawk, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%