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SURVIVAL OF CAPACITATED SPERMATOZOA IN THE OVIDUCT OF THE RABBIT

Spermatozoa attain the ability to fertilize an ovum by incubation in the reproductive tract for a given period of time (capacitation). Recently Bedford & Shalkovsky (1967) and Bedford (1967) have indicated that the final stages of capacitation may be species-specific, normally occur in the oviduct and require from 0·5 to 2·5 hr in the rabbit. Capacitation enables the spermatozoon to penetrate the cumulus oophorus, corona radiata and to initiate fertilization. The work of Dukelow, Chernoff & Williams (1967) suggested that the final stages of capacitation may involve an ovum-sperm interaction occurring on the surface of, or within, the zona pellucida. These workers have suggested that the oviducal environment was detrimental to the fertility of uterine capacitated spermatozoa resident in the oviduct for several hours before ovulation. The objectives of the present study were to determine (1)