Comparison of the Distribution of Motile and Immotile Spermatozoa in the Ovine Cervix

Abstract

In ruminants, large numbers of spermatozoa are found in the cervix in recently mated animals (Quinlan, Mare, and Roux 1932; Starke 1949; Mattner 1963, 1968). The spermatozoa are not randomly distributed throughout the lumen of the cervix but tend to aggregate in the vicinity of the cervical mucosa, particularly in the crypts between the cervical villi (Mattner 1966). It has been postulated (Mattner 1966) that the majority of the spermatozoa that enter the cervix progress toward the cervical mucosa as a result of their own motility and of the directional restraint imposed on their movement by the anisotropy of the mucus. If this hypothesis is correct, immotile spermatozoa introduced into the cervix should not aggregate in the vicinity of the cervical mucosa. Nor should they pass toward the uterus counter to the flow of the cervical mucus except during the phase of rapid transport of spermatozoa that may occur for a short time after mating in undisturbed animals (Vandemark and Hays 1954; Mattner 1963). The distribution of spermatozoa in the cervix of ewes inseminated with killed spermatozoa was examined to test the hypothesis.