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 Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hunter, R. H. F. Articles by Nichol, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hunter, R. H. F. Articles by Nichol, R.

A preovulatory temperature gradient between the isthmus and ampulla of pig oviducts during the phase of sperm storage

Summary. Fine thermistor probes positioned in each end of the same oviduct and connected to the same scale were used to measure temperature gradients in the lumen before and after spontaneous ovulation in normally-cyclic gilts. Readings were taken after full surgical closure of a mid-ventral incision and a subsequent period of stabilization, but whilst animals remained under general anaesthesia.

A small but consistent difference in temperature was recorded between the proximal ampulla and distal isthmus of the same oviduct in each of 20 preovulatory gilts. In 10 of these animals that had not mated, the isthmus was a mean of 0·43°C cooler than the ampulla (range 0·2–0·7°C whereas in 10 mated animals the isthmus was 0·69°C cooler (range 0·2–1·6°C 3 animals in the latter group had within-oviduct differences of 1°C. By contrast, in 12 animals that had recently ovulated, the isthmus was a mean of only 0·1°C cooler than the ampulla; there was no measurable temperature gradient in 3 of the animals, whilst the isthmus was 0·1°C warmer in 2 animals. The preovulatory temperature differences are thought primarily to reflect the extent and activity of the vascular and lymphatic beds in the oviduct tissues and, together with specific chemical microenvironments, may facilitate the relatively prolonged period of sperm storage in the distal portion of the isthmus.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Oren-Benaroya, R. Orvieto, A. Gakamsky, M. Pinchasov, and M. Eisenbach The sperm chemoattractant secreted from human cumulus cells is progesterone Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2008; 23(10): 2339 - 2345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Bahat, M. Eisenbach, and I. Tur-Kaspa Periovulatory increase in temperature difference within the rabbit oviduct Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2005; 20(8): 2118 - 2121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Luck, S. Griffiths, K. Gregson, E. Watson, M. Nutley, and A. Cooper Follicular fluid responds endothermically to aqueous dilution Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2001; 16(12): 2508 - 2514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Darszon, P. Labarca, T. Nishigaki, and F. Espinosa Ion Channels in Sperm Physiology Physiol Rev, April 1, 1999; 79(2): 481 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]