THE VIABILITY OF SPERMATOZOA IN THE ABDOMINAL EPIDIDYMIS AND THE FAILURE OF MOTILE SPERMS TO FERTILIZE OVA

Abstract

The testes of yr.-old rabbits were anchored in the abdomen by a suture through the caput epididymides; spermatogenesis ceased within 24 hrs. They were mated at definite times after operation. At 8 days, the extreme of fertility, 2 [male][male] in 6 were fertile, at 9 days none of 10, and at 10 days none of 7. There was no reduction in litter size. Motility of the spermatozoa dropped rapidly after the 10th day and ceased on the 14th day. No motility was observed in 15 [male][male] tested at 15 days. In 9 [male][male] mated after fertility had ceased but within the time of motility, 3 were without motile sperm; in the others, sperm reached the uterus but failed to survive until ovulation had occurred, and no sperm were found in the oviducts. In contrast, 2 [male][male] with the tails of the epididymides in the inguinal canal were fertile and live sperm were found in the uteri with dead sperm in the oviducts. The motile, but non-fertile sperm failed to reach the oviducts or to survive until ovulation time.