Delayed Cleavage of Rabbit Ova After Fertilization by Young Epididymal Spermatozoa

The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa from the proximal and distal corpus epididymidis of 359 rabbits was determined. In 77 percent of the males the first fertile spermatozoa were found in the distal corpus epididymidis. In 23 percent of the males fertile spermatozoa were found in the proximal corpus epididymidis. The first cleavage of ova fertilized by these spermatozoa was slightly but consistently delayed when compared with ova fertilized by spermatozoa from the distal corpus epididymidis of the same males.