The relationship of infertility to antibody production in the uterovaginal sperm storage tubules of turkey breeder hens.
Oviductal tissue from fertile and infertile turkey breeder hens was stained immuno-histochemically to test for the presence of antibody positive cells. Relatively infertile turkey hens (< 50% fertility) were found to have antibody positive cells within the uterovaginal sperm storage tubule epithelium, while fertile turkey hens (> 90% fertility) had no antibody positive cells. Data suggest a local immune response to spermatozoa exists in the uterovaginal sperm storage tubules of the turkey hen which may have a detrimental effect on fertility.
Kirk
T A
TA
Department of Poultry Science Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 24061-0332 USA.
Van Krey
H P
HP
Hulet
R M
RM
Dunnington
E A
EA
Denbow
D M
DM