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A New Technique for In Vivo Measurement of Accessory Sex Organ Activity in Male Rabbits^{1, 3,}

The Pennsylvania State University,⁴ University Park 16802

Abstract

A CLOSED, fluid-filled catheter-transducer system was developed for measuring contractions of the ductus deferens and seminal vesicle during semen collection from the rabbit. Forces exerted on silicone tubing sensors were transmitted hydrostatically through an active tube to one chamber of a differential-pressure transducer. An identical but closed-end, water-filled Silastic tube accompanied the active tube through a Silastic conduit tube and was connected to the other transducer chamber. A pair of closed-end tubes was used to monitor and eliminate most of the artifacts not cancelled by the active differential approach.

Contractions of the ductus deferens or seminal vesicle were studied with separate groups of five rabbits. There was no significant difference between mean maximal pressures during emission and at ejaculation for either the ductus deferens (184±76 mm Hg and 197± 96 mm Hg) or the seminal vesicle (71±42 mm Hg and 75±43 mm Hg). There generally was a sharp rise in intraluminal pressure in both organs associated with the ejaculatory thrust. Ductus deferens and seminal vesicle pressures subsided after ejaculation but often transiently increased when the buck dismounted from the female. Both visual and tactile stimuli elicited ductus deferens and seminal vesicle contractions. The absence of reaction to the implanted tubing suggested that the system could have been used longer than the maximum of 31 days tested.

¹ Authorized for publication as Paper No. 3881 in the Journal

³ The work was partially supported by a "terminal-year" National Science Foundation Graduate Traineeship (NSF Grant GZ-944), and by Atlantic Breeders Cooperative, Lancaster, Pa., and Northeastern Breeders Association, Tunkhannock, Pa.

² Dr. Karr's present address is: Haile Sellassie I University, College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

⁴ Dairy Breeding Research Center, Department of Dairy Science.