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A Comparative Study of Epididymal and Ejaculated Spermatozoa of the Boar

University of Missouri¹

Abstract

Conclusions:

1. Results reported in this paper show that epididymal spermatozoa differ from those in ejaculated semen and indicate that morphological and other cellular changes rather than environmental factors contribute to this difference.
   
2. Spermatozoa from the epididymis of the boar stored "in vitro" remained alive for a longer period of time than spermatozoa in ejaculated semen from the same male.
   
3. The resistance of spermatozoa to a cold shock differed with the part of the reproductive tract from which the spermatozoa were obtained; those from the epididymis were much more resistant than were ejaculated spermatozoa.
   
4. Differences in several characteristics of epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa exist and the lower survival of ejaculated spermatozoa during storage seems to result from changes within the cells themselves rather than differences in the fluids in which they are suspended.
   
5. A protoplasmic droplet was present on the mid piece near the head of the spermatozoa obtained from the head of the epididymis, on the posterior part of the midpiece of spermatozoa obtained from the tail of the epididymis and the vas deferens, and was absent in ejaculated spermatozoa.
   
6. There seemed to be a relation between the position of the protoplasmic droplet and the bending of the tails of spermatozoa during storage. It is suggested that spermatozoa showing bent tails are undeveloped ones which may result from over use of the male or from a disturbance in spermatogenesis.
   

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Columbia, Mo., Journal Series No. 943. The authors acknowledge the cooperation of Professor L.A. Weaver in making the boars available for the study, Mr. C.B. Gee for his care and management of the animals, and Mr. Glynden T. Easley for assistance in castrations. Dr. Dennis T. Mayer and Professor E.A Trowbridge gave valuable assistance in preparing this manuscript.

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