Failure of Conception in Rabbits Inseminated with Nonagglutinating, Univalent Antibody-Treated Semen1

Abstract

Guinea pig anti-rabbit sperm and control γ globulin were digested to nonagglutinating, univalent (3.5S) fragments with papain. Samples of rabbit semen (0.3 ml) were incubated (30 min) with 1-ml samples of the univalent or undigested parent γ globulin preparations and then used to artificially inseminate female rabbits. After 6 days the females were examined for blastocysts, ova, and corpora lutea. In five such experiments, all females which received the digested, and four of the five which received the undigested controlγ globulin, yielded blastocysts. In terms of corpora lutea, the percentages of blastocysts were 111 and 69%, respectively. In the antibody-treated series blastocysts were found in only one female with digested and none in those treated with undigested antibodies (16 and 0%, respectively).