Sperm release from the uterovaginal storage gland of the chicken: A perfusion study.

In vitro and in vivo intraluminal perfusions of the uterovaginal junction of the oviduct were performed in an attempt to quantitate sperm release from the uterovaginal sperm host glands (UV-SHG) of breeder hens. Spermatozoa were present in the perfusate at all time periods examined. However, the quantity of spermatozoa recovered showed a significant (P<0.0001) decline over a 2-h perfusion period in all experiments. Furthermore, histological examination of the perfused oviduct revealed significantly lower percentages (P<0.05) of UV-SHG containing spermatozoa compared to unperfused control oviducts. The perfusion techniques used in this study seemed to influence the pattern of sperm release from the storage glands.