The role of rat copulatory plug for fertilization.
To investigate the contribution of the rat copulatory plug (RCP) to fertilization we evaluated the following: 1) its role as a reservoir for spermatozoa, 2) its role in the prevention of the outflow of spermatozoa from the vagina, and 3) its importance in the process of the sperm into the uterus. Artificial inseminations with either fresh RCP or epididymal spermatozoal solutions or the postcoital removal of the RCP was performed in normal female rats in estrus and in pseudopregnant rats (following relaxation of the cervix by faradic stimulation). The pregnancy rates in the different groups indicated that only the third mechanism was important.
Sofikitis
N
N
Department of Urology, Tottori University Medical School, Yonago, Japan.
Takahaski
C
C
Nakamura
I
I
Kadowaki
H
H
Okazaki
T
T
Shimamoto
T
T
Miyagawa
I
I
D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina
D011506:Proteins