title: The relationship of infertility to antibody production in the uterovaginal sperm storage tubules of turkey breeder hens.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 24061-0332 USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Van Krey
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hulet
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dunnington
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Denbow