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Deep Uterine Insemination of Cattle: A Fruitful Way Forward with Smaller Numbers of Spermatozoa

Dyb uterin inseminering hos kvæg. En frugtbar fremgangsmåde med færre spermier

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 39, pages 149–163 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

After describing the site of fertilisation and that of the functional sperm reservoir in the female tract, proposals are made concerning a modified site of sperm deposition in cattle. By means of a deep pre-ovulatory insemination into the ipsilateral uterine horn, the chances should be raised of establishing viable spermatozoa in the isthmus where they would undergo a form of physiological encapsulation and storage. Release and activation of such spermatozoa would be prompted by imminent ovulation.

Potential advantages of this approach include those of raising the overall fertility of genetically valuable bulls whose non-return rates are sub-optimal; reducing the number of spermatozoa in each insemination dose; using effectively the limited numbers of sex-selected sperm cells (X and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa) currently available from flow cytometry. Putative disadvantages might include rectal palpation of the ovaries to locate the pre-ovulatory follicle; perforation of the uterine wall by the deep insemination catheter; risk of Polyspermie fertilisation; and the inappropriateness of the technique for non-clinically qualified inseminators. Each of these reservations is responded to in a rational manner. Given a change of attitude, a modified technique of insemination would be feasible under commercial conditions and might give a welcome boost to a sagging artificial insemination industry. kw|Keywords|k]uterus; k]cow; k]fertilisation; k]sperm reservoir; k]Fallopian tube; k]isthmus; k]polyspermy; k]glycoproteins

Sammendrag

I nærværende oversigtsartikel har vi indledningsvis beskrevet forhold omkring befrugtningssted og etablering af det funktionelle spermiereservoir i de hunlige kønsorganer. Dernæst beskrives en modificeret præovulatorisk insemineringsteknik, hvor en lavere dosis sædceller deponeres dybt i uterushornet ipsilateralt til det ovarium, som indeholder den præovulatoriske follikel med henblik på at skabe et tilstrækkelig stort reservoir i isthmus. I forbindelse med ovulation frigøres og aktiveres sædcellerne fra dette depot.

Potentielle fordele ved dyb intrauterin insemination ville være: forbedring af fertiliteten for visse genetisk værdifulde tyre, hvis omløberprocenter er for høje, reduktion af insemingsdosis og anvendelse af kønssorteret sæd.

Mulige ulemper kunne være palpation af ovariet umiddelbart inden ovulation, perforation af uterus væggen eller blot beskadigelser af slimhinden og risiko for en øget hyppighed af polyspermi. Disse forhold er diskuteret, og der synes god grund til, at man indleder praktiske forsøg med denne inseminerinsgteknik.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to colleagues in Copenhagen for commenting on a draft of the manuscript, to the Carlsberg Foundation for financial support, and to Mrs Frances Anderson in Edinburgh for kindly preparing the typescript.

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  1. Department of Clinical Studies, Reproduction, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bülowsvej 13, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    R.H.F. Hunter & T. Greve

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  2. T. Greve
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Correspondence to R.H.F. Hunter.

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Hunter, R., Greve, T. Deep Uterine Insemination of Cattle: A Fruitful Way Forward with Smaller Numbers of Spermatozoa. Acta Vet Scand 39, 149–163 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547788

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

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