The Effect of Prostaglandin E1 on Rabbit Sperm Transport in Vivo

Abstract

The effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on sperm transport in twenty-one artificially inseminated rabbits was investigated. The female genital tracts were sectioned \ m=1/ 2\ hr or 2 hr after insemination with equivalent numbers of spermatozoa and examined for sperm transport. The inseminate used in each test animal contained 75 \ g=m\ gPGE1. The average number of spermatozoa recovered from the uteri and oviducts of the test groups was greater than that of the control groups. In the group killed \ m=1/ 2\ hr after insemination, 1\m=.\8times as many spermatozoa were recovered in the test group. Nearly 18 times as many spermatozoa on the average were recovered from the test animals killed 2 hr after insemination. However, this was only significant for the group killed 2 hr after insemination (P = 0\m=.\004).Significantly greater numbers of spermatozoa were found in the oviducts of test animals killed 2 hr after insemination than in controls (P = 0\m=.\014). This study shows that a high dose of PGE1 in seminal plasma aids sperm transport in the rabbit female genital tract.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on fertility of male rats

“…Reduction of fertility by indomethacin may therefore be secondary due to toxic side-effects, which are more pronounced in the rat than with any of the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs studied. Because of the low endogenous PG concentrations in semen of rats and rabbits, a physiological role in sperm transport has been questioned (Mandi, 1972;Ventura & Freund, 1973). However, the effects of phenylbutazone and the other drugs on PGE-2 were studied by determination of basal concentrations, as rats that were not mated with females were used.…”

Reproductive failure and reduced blood pressure in mice lacking the EP2 prostaglandin E2 receptor

“…Data represent mean ± SEM. on female reproductive tissue, including oviductal smooth muscle (24). Numerous sperm were found in the oviducts of Ep2 -/-females within 12 hours of coitus, making it unlikely that alteration in sperm transport is the cause of fertilization failure in the EP2-deficient animals.…”

Effects on fertilization of rabbits of insemination with ejaculates treated with PG-dehydrogenase and antisera to PGE-2 and PGF-2

“…However, systemically applied PGF-2a enhances sperm transport in vivo (Chang, Hunt & Polge, 1973;Spilman, Finn & Norland, 1973 ;Edqvist, Einarsson & Gustafsson, 1975) and other prostanoids are also believed to be involved in the fertilization process (Mandi, 1972;Poyser, 1974).…”