OVIDUCT SECRETION IN THE EWE AND THE EFFECT OF OVIDUCT FLUID ON OXYGEN UPTAKE BY RAM SPERMATOZOA IN VITRO

In recent years, interest in the role played by oviduct fluids in reproduction has increased. With the development of a method for the continuous collection of oviduct fluid from the rabbit (Clewe & Mastroianni, 1960) it became possible to measure the rate of oviduct secretion in the unanaesthetized animal. By slightly modifying their collection apparatus, oviduct fluid was collected from the ewe by Black, Duby & Reisen (1963) and more recently by Perkins, Goode, Wilder & Henson (1965), Restall & Wales (1966) and Wales & Restall (1966). The oviduct provides a liquid medium for gametes during transport and fertilization. Whether this fluid does more than provide a protective environment is unknown. Spermatozoan respiration is stimulated by oviduct fluid from the cow (Olds & VanDemark, 1957),