Some Effects of the Porcine Female Reproductive Tract on Metabolism of Boar Spermatozoa

Fourteen trials were conducted to study the influence of incubating boar spermatozoa in the gilt uterus or in the presence of gilt reproductive tract fluid on subsequent in vitro anaerobic and aerobic metabolism. In Experiment I in vivo incubation of boar semen significantly (P<.05) increased motility, but did not significantly alter pH, fructose utilization, lactic acid accumulation or oxygen consumption. In Experiment II boar spermatozoa incubated in vivo for 2 hr. consumed more oxygen and had higher motility scores (P<.01) during subsequent in vitro incubation than did in vitro controls. In Experiment III (six trials) twice-washed boar spermatozoa were resuspended in extender with and without added gilt tract fluid and incubated for 2 hr. under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Motility was maintained equally well in the two extenders during anaerobic incubation. Adding reproductive tract fluid to the extender significantly (P<.01) increased motility and oxygen consumption during aerobic incubation. Significant differences due to added gilt tract fluid were not observed for pH changes.