EFFECT OF CANNULAE IN THE AMPULLA OF THE OVIDUCT AND IN THE TUBO-UTERINE JUNCTION ON REPRODUCTIVE PHENOMENA IN SHEEP

Permanent cannulation systems designed for injecting spermatozoa or for collecting eggs and fluids at the tubouterine junction and at the ampulla near its junction with the isthmus of the oviduct are described. Ewes [3] bilaterally cannulated in the tubouterine junction had spermatozoa injected through the cannulae and 4 of 8 eggs recovered were fertilized. Six more ewes were bilaterally cannulated. They continued to cycle and few complications were experienced. But cannulation appeared to reduce superovulatory response to exogenous gonadotropins. This also occurred in a confirmatory study with 16 rabbits in which superovulated controls averaged 25.6 ovulations vs. 8.6 in those with cannulae. When cannulae were installed near the ampullar-isthmic junction no eggs were recovered surgically from 4 controls. These cannulae appeared to interfere with ampullary transport of eggs. Blood plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone and progesterone were not affected by cannulae. As cycle length also was normal it appeared that these devices were not luteolytic. The cannulae were still functioning in the animals euthanized more than 6 mo. after installation. Once installed, they appear to offer a non-surgical means of examining several aspects of reproductive function associated with fertilization. The observations on altered egg transport and ovarian response to gonadotropins may be of significance in certain cases of infertility.