Summary. The oviducts of 4 cows were cannulated and oviduct fluid was collected daily from the exteriorized cannulas for a total of 5 oestrous cycles. Daily serum samples were assayed for oestradiol-17\g=b\ and progesterone to monitor the oestrous cycle. Data for each cycle were compared for oviduct fluid collected during the non-luteal phase (serum progesterone \ m=l e\ 1\m=.\5 ng/ml) and the luteal phase (serum progesterone > 1\m=.\5 ng/ml). During the non-luteal phase oviduct fluid volume was higher and the osmolality was lower than during the luteal phase. Total protein, cholesterol and phospholipid secreted daily was greater during the non-luteal phase. Cholesterol and protein concentrations were generally lower during the non-luteal phase, but phospholipid concentrations were generally higher. About 40% of the phospholipid in oviduct fluid was phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine, while phosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidylinositol accounted for 20%. The ratio of 1-acyl-phospholipid to diacylphospholipid increased during the non-luteal phase. An increased cholesterol to phospholipid ratio, and a decreased cholesterol to protein ratio in oviduct fluid also were associated with the non-luteal phase. Changes in the lipid composition of oviduct fluid during the oestrous cycle may play a role in the preparation of gametes for fertilization.

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The ability of accessory sex gland fluid to affect the fertility of cauda epididymal sperm was evaluated for 10 bulls that ranged in fertility from 6.2% below to 6.0% above the average fertility of bulls at artificial breeding cooperatives. Cauda epididymal sperm collected from indwelling vasa deferentia catheters and cauda epididymal sperm exposed to accessory sex gland fluid from the same bull were compared on the basis of their rates of in vitro penetration of zona-free oocytes after heterospermic insemination. Incubation of cauda epididymal sperm with accessory sex gland fluid significantly enhanced the ability to penetrate oocytes, and bull fertility affected the magnitude of this improvement. For bulls of average and higher fertility, the positive influence of accessory sex gland fluid on penetrating ability of sperm was highly significant (p < 0.0001). Accessory sex gland fluid from bulls of below-average fertility also improved the penetrating ability of cauda epididymal sperm, although not significantly (p = 0.07). Heterospermic competitions compared the penetrating ability of cauda epididymal sperm exposed to homologous accessory sex gland fluid with a portion of the same sperm population incubated in heterologous accessory sex gland fluid from a bull of contrasting fertility. In experiments involving sperm from 12 different bulls, paired in 42 fertile/subfertile combinations, samples of cauda epididymal sperm mixed with accessory sex gland fluid from the higher-fertility bulls had greater oocyte-penetrating ability than when aliquots of that sample were mixed with accessory gland fluid from lower-fertility bulls (p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The current studies were designed to investigate relationships among prolactin (PRL) binding, PRL concentrations in plasma and metabolic activity of porcine mammary glands. Preliminary studies revealed specific high-affinity binding of oPRL to porcine mammary gland. Conditions for optimal specific binding were similar to those observed for other species. To address the main objectives of the study, four mammary biopsies and blood samples were obtained from each of four gilts during lactogenesis and lactation (d-11, 4, 21 and 42 of lactation) to measure in vitro rates of metabolic activity, PRL binding to mammary membranes and PRL concentrations in plasma. Metabolic activity, as measured by oxidation of glucose or acetate to CO2 and incorporation into lipid, was low during pregnancy, increased two- to five-fold on d 4, and then paralleled the lactation curve for sows. There were highly significant positive correlations between PRL binding and all measures of mammary metabolism when data from pregnancy and lactation were utilized. Coefficients were positive but generally not statistically significant when lactation data only were utilized. During lactation, significant negative correlations were observed between concentrations of PRL in plasma and PRL binding and between PRL in plasma and mammary metabolic rate. These data provide evidence that binding of PRL to its receptor is an important effector of milk production in sows. Furthermore, oPRL is a suitable ligand to quantify PRL binding to porcine mammary tissue.

Oviductal fluid was collected from 23 dairy cows following cannulation of the oviduct in 38 procedures utilizing silastic catheters. Standing laparotomy in the caudal abdomen enabled exteriorization of the ipsilateral ovary, oviduct, and uterine horn tip. A simple plastic device inserted through the ostium facilitated placement of an indwelling catheter. The exteriorized catheter connected to a collection device attached to the flank that provided ready access for harvesting fluids. Typical fluid volumes collected ranged from 0.1 to 3 mL per day depending on the estrus cycle stage. Patency varied from 2 to 156 days with an average duration of 68.2 days. Fluid flow ceased most commonly when a catheter was avulsed from the surgical site (58%) or became occluded with fibrin (14%). Slight modification of the stanchion housing has increased the longevity of the preparations.