Epithelial surface changes and spermatozoa storage in the reproductive tract of the bitch |
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| Authors: | GCW England CM Burgess AL Clutterbuck SL Freeman |
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| Institution: | 1. Division of Veterinary Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK;2. Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK;1. Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Leahurst Campus, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK;2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK;3. Cotts Farm Equine Hospital, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8EY, UK;4. Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol, Langford, Somerset BS40 5DU, UK;5. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK;2. Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;3. Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;4. Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;1. Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of La Plata (NULP), Argentina;2. National Research Council (CONICET), Argentina;3. Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | Spermatozoa are known to bind to the epithelial cells lining the uterine tube in various species, but information in canids is conflicting and sparse. The first aim of this study was to measure the epithelial surface outline (ESO) of different regions of the canine uterine tube in the four stages of the oestrous cycle as an indicator of a changing potential reservoir for spermatozoa. The second aim was to identify the site of sperm storage in the bitch after natural mating. Reproductive tracts were collected from bitches undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy.Histological analysis showed that, when corrected for uterine tube size, the ESO of pro-oestrus (P < 0.005) and oestrus (P < 0.05) tubes were larger than anoestrus, but not metoestrus, tubes. The second study examined reproductive tracts from 12 Beagle bitches at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after mating. Light and electron microscopy revealed large numbers of spermatozoa in the proximal regions of the uterus and particularly the distal utero-tubal junction (UTJ), with few present in the proximal UTJ or uterine tubes. Spermatozoa were bound by their heads to microvilli on the epithelial surface of the uterine lumen and to ciliated cells in the distal UTJ. This is the first report to measure and document differences in potential epithelial attachment sites of the uterine tubes at different stages of the oestrous cycle and to provide compelling evidence that the main spermatozoal storage site in the reproductive tract of the bitch is the distal UTJ. |
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