Transport and Cleavage of Ova in Swine

Abstract

Swine ova were found to be transported through the oviduct at a faster rate than has been reported for sheep, cattle and many other mammalian species. Ova passed through the first half of the oviduct very rapidly and then remained in the third quarter, which contained the ampullary-isthmic junction of the oviduct, until 60 to 75 hr. after onset of estrus. The ova then passed through the fourth quarter of the oviduct and entered the uterus between 66 and 90 hr. after onset of estrus. All uterine ova recorded in this study were located in the anterior 5 inches of the uterine horn. This knowledge should facilitate in vivo recovery of uterine ova in developing transfer techniques. At intervals of 30 to 60, 68 to 84 and 90 to 108 hr. after onset of estrus, ova were located in the oviduct only, in the posterior half of the oviduct or the first 5 inches of the uterine horn and in only the first 5 inches of the uterine horn, respectively. Ova located in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of the oviduct consisted of one, one to two, one to four and two to six blastomeres, respectively, and uterine ova varied between the four-cell and morula stages of development. Copyright © 1965. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1965 by American Society of Animal Science