title: Impact of ACTH during oestrus on the ultrastructure of the spermatozoa and their environment in the tubal reservoir of the postovulatory sow.
abstract: This study investigated whether injections of synthetic ACTH (simulating short-term stress) in sows during standing oestrus have a negative effect on spermatozoa and the local intraluminal environment in the utero-tubal junction (UTJ) and isthmus. Seven of the 14 sows were given ACTH through a jugular catheter every 2 h from the onset of standing oestrus until the sow ovulated (ACTH-group), while the other seven sows were given NaCl solution (C-group). All sows were artificially inseminated before ovulation. Six hours after ovulation (detected with transrectal ultrasonography) the sows were anaesthetised, the right oviduct was fixed in toto by vascular perfusion with glutaraldehyde, and the UTJ and specimens from the isthmus were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM revealed that a seemingly viable population of spermatozoa remained in the UTJ 6 h after ovulation. A majority of sows in the ACTH-group had moderately to exaggerated amounts of mucus in the intraluminal environment of the sperm reservoir. In conclusion, stress simulated by exogenous ACTH in sows may alter the intraluminal environment of the sperm reservoir.
authors.affiliation: Division of Comparative Reproduction, Obstetrics and Udder Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FVMAS), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden. ylva.brandt@kv.slu.se
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Martinez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madej
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Einarsson
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004777:Environment; D004971:Estrus; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009093:Mucus / Q000187:drug effects; D010060:Ovulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone