Crooked-Necked Spermatozoa in Relation to Low Fertility in the Artificial Insemination of Fowl

IN THE quest of satisfactory fertility in the artificial insemination of fowl there still remain unknown factors in the physiology, biochemistry and morphology of spermatozoon and ovum. It has been reported that the increment of dilution rates of the semen causes a marked decrease in fertilizing capacity (Shibata et al., 1938; Gilbreath and Davis, 1949; Weakley and Shaffner, 1952; Wilcox, 1958). The effect of the storage temperature on the fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa was reported by many workers. Shaffner et al. (1941) first reported that the most favorable temperature for the purpose of maintaining sperm life was 0–1 °C. In fertility tests, Garren and Shaffner (1952), Hunsaker et al. (1956), Schindler et al. (1955) and Carter et al. (1957) reported that storage at 10–15°C. gave better fertility than that at the lower temperature. Allen and Grigg (1957) inseminated dead sperm labeled with P32 into the uterus, and …