Influence of Homologous Blood Serum on Motility and Head-to-Head Agglutination in Nonmotile Ejaculated Bovine Spermatozoa1

Influence of incubation in utero on motility and head-to-head agglutination of ejaculated rabbit spermatozoa

“…The biochemical basis for the loss of motility following 8 h incubation in sodium citrate is not known, nor has the identity of the motility stimulating substance in uterine fluid been determined. Uterine fluid and blood serum contain pyruvate and lactate (Bavister & Yanagimachi, 1977), but previous studies (Brown & Senger, 1980) determined that serum-induced reinitiation of motility was not mediated by the replacement of an oxidizable energy source or divalent ions. Overstreet & Cooper (1975, 1979 reported that over 70% of rabbit spermatozoa recovered from the uterus showed vigorous progressive motility.…”

“…Overstreet & Cooper (1975, 1979 reported that over 70% of rabbit spermatozoa recovered from the uterus showed vigorous progressive motility. They used a flushing medium containing 5% heat-treated serum which has been shown to stimulate motility and cause agglutination (Brown & Senger, 1980). The method for removing spermatozoa by capillary action used in this study prevented subjection of spermatozoa to a recovery medium, dilution, or the mechanical effects of flushing.…”

“…The assumption is made that ejaculates with low sperm motility immediately after collection will result in low fertility and that the decrease in motility normally associated with dilution and in-vitro incubation is irreversible. Brown & Senger (1980) found that heat-treated heifer serum reinitiated progressive motility of bovine spermatozoa previously rendered immotile by in-vitro incubation for 8 h in 2-9% sodium citrate. Ejaculates with low sperm motility immediately after collection responded to serum as well as or better than ejaculates with high sperm motility after collection.…”

“…Uterine fluid is similar in composition to blood serum (Beier, 1974;Menezo, 1975); therefore, we tested the hypothesis that uterine incubation could reverse the decrease in motility of spermatozoa normally associated with dilution and in-vitro incubation. Brown & Senger (1980) also found that spermatozoa that became motile after addition of serum tended to agglutinate. Agglutination has usually been regarded as an artefact or a physiological phenomenon related to cellular immobilization and infertility (Mann, 1964), even though serum-induced agglutination of spermatozoa requires an intact acrosomal membrane (Senger & Saacke, 1976;Aalseth, Senger & Becker, 1978;Brown & Senger, 1980) and vigorous motility (Aalseth et al, 1978;Brown & Senger, 1980 (Saacke & White, 1972) and head-to-head agglutination (Senger & Saacke, 1976) were assessed from fixed samples (Johnson, Berndtson & Pickett, 1976) using a differential interference contrast (x 1000) microscope.…”

“…Ejaculates with low sperm motility immediately after collection responded to serum as well as or better than ejaculates with high sperm motility after collection. Brown & Senger (1980) suggested that motility estimates made immediately after ejaculation do not allow prediction of the potential for motility after serum addition. Uterine fluid is similar in composition to blood serum (Beier, 1974;Menezo, 1975); therefore, we tested the hypothesis that uterine incubation could reverse the decrease in motility of spermatozoa normally associated with dilution and in-vitro incubation.…”