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THE EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL CRYPTORCHIDISM IN THE RABBIT ON THE TRANSPORT AND SURVIVAL OF SPERMATOZOA IN THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT

Summary.: Artificial cryptorchidism is known to result in sterility in male rabbits within 6 to 8 days. When oestrous females were artificially inseminated per vaginam with constant numbers of ejaculated spermatozoa collected from groups of males before, and 2, 5 and 8 days after the induction of cryptorchidism, the numbers of spermatozoa recovered from the oviducts at about the time of ovulation remained normal up to 5 days. There were highly significant correlations (P<0·001) between the numbers of live spermatozoa inseminated and the numbers recovered from the female tracts. The survival of spermatozoa was studied by insemination of constant numbers into the uterine horns of females at various times in relation to ovulation. Control ejaculated spermatozoa proved most efficient at contacting and fertilizing ova when insemination was at the `normal' time, 10 to 12 hr before ovulation: spermatozoa from the same males 4 days after the artificial induction of cryptorchidism were of lower fertilizing ability, but did not appear to suffer from any reduced capacity for survival in the female. The onset of infertility following the induction of cryptorchidism thus does not appear to be caused by a failure of spermatozoa to be transported to the site of fertilization, nor by a failure to survive to contact ova. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the retention of the cytoplasmic droplet.