This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MATTNER, P. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MATTNER, P. E.

THE SURVIVAL OF SPERMATOZOA IN BOVINE CERVICAL MUCUS AND MUCUS FRACTIONS

Summary.: Bull spermatozoa survived at extremely low cell concentrations (10 to 470 cells/µl) at 37° C in either cervical mucus or gel obtained by centrifugation of the mucus, but became immotile almost immediately after being suspended at 500 cells/µl in isotonic saline. Spermatozoa were adversely affected by suspension at low cell concentration in supernatant obtained by centrifuging mucus, or in mucus that had been liquefied by maceration. Although spermatozoa were slightly more resistant to the lethal effects of dilution in saline after passage through mucus, the resistance was quickly lost. The results suggest that the structural and physical properties of the mucus are responsible for the absence of the dilution effect on spermatozoa in cervical mucus.