Composition of oviduct fluid kept at two temperatures during collection from sheep.

Abstract

It has never been established that fluid collected from the oviducts of rabbits (Clewe & Mastroianni, 1960), ewes (Black, Duby & Riesen, 1963; Restall, 1966; Perkins, Goode, Wilder & Hensen, 1965; Iritani, Gomes & VanDemark, 1969), cows (Carlson, Black & Howe, unpublished data) and monkeys (Mastro¬ ianni, Shah & Abdul-Karim, 1961) is comparable with the fluid normally present in the oviduct. The results of Holmdahl & Mastroianni (1965) suggest that it may not be comparable since they found that fluid held at low tempera¬ tures during collection from rabbits contained more glucose and less calcium than fluid collected at room temperature. A similar experiment was therefore carried out in sheep. Fourteen ewes of the Dorset and Shropshire breeds were used in the experi¬ ment. They were placed in individual stalls, given 1 lb of grain, hay or silage, and unrestricted water. Oestrus was detected with the aid of a ram. Animals to be cannulated for the collection of oviduct fluid were anaesthe¬ tized with Equithesin (Jen-Sal Labs) and the reproductive tract was exposed through a ventral incision anterior to the mammary glands. A silicone rubber (Silastic-Dow Corning) cannula (0-217 cm outer diameter, 0-102 cm inner diameter, 61 cm long) was inserted through the infundibulum of one oviduct and into the ampulla for about 1 cm. The cannula was retained within the oviduct by two ligatures of synthetic suture material, care being taken not to occlude the lumen. The position and patency of the cannula were determined by forcing a small amount of air into the oviduct. After ligating the uterine end of the cannulated oviduct to prevent passage of oviduct fluid into the uterus, the distal end of the cannula was brought out through the right flank and attached to a plastic test-tube cap which had an opening for air. The cap fitted tightly on the sterile plastic test-tubes in which the oviduct fluid was collected. The wound was closed in the usual manner and the animal allowed to regain full conscious¬ ness before being returned to its stall. Each ewe was fitted with a canvas blanket in which there was a pocket in the right side to hold the test-tube and container. The temperature within the collection vials was controlled by circulating