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Effect of Intrauterine Threads on Fertilizatiion Rate in Ewes¹

University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted using a total of 84 ewes to determine the effects of bilateral or unilateral insertion of intrauterine threads on fertilization rate and unilateral insertion on embryonic survival. In experiment I bilateral insertion of intrauterine threads significantly reduced the proportion of ewes with fertilized ova 3 days after mating. Intrauterine threads inhibited fertilization without shortening the lengths of estrous cycles immediately prior to mating. In experiment II the presence of an intrauterine thread ipsilateral, but not contralateral, to the side of ovulation significantly reduced the proportion of ewes with fertilized ova 3 days after mating. Twelve days after mating (experiment III) the pregnancy rate of ewes ovulating on the ovary ipsilateral to the intrauterine thread was approximately one-half that of the ewes in sham operated or contralateral groups. The results of these experiments indicate that the major antifertility effect of intrauterine threads in ewes is an inhibition of fertilization when ovulation occurs ipsilateral to a uterine horn containing the thread. The experiments failed to provide evidence that the intrauterine threads modify the uterine environment in a manner that would cause early embryonic mortality.

¹ The author thanks Barbara Spennetta for assistance in conducting the experiments. Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Graduate School Research Committee, University of Wisconsin, Madison; The Ford Foundation Grant No. 630-O505B.C; and by Public Health Service Training Grant No. 5-T01-HD00104-10 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This is Paper No. 688 from the Department of Meat and Animal Science.

² Department of Meat and Animal Science.