DIFFERENTIAL LEUCOCYTIC RESPONSES TO SPERMATOZOA IN THE CERVIX AND THE UTERUS IN EWES

Summary. The effect of spermatozoa within the cervix and of spermatozoa within the uterus on the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (polymorphs) into the lumen of the genital tract at oestrus was examined in ewes. Ligation of the cranial end of the cervix resulted in an accumulation of polymorphs in the lumen of the uterus and of fewer polymorphs in the lumen of the cervix. In genital tracts so ligated, spermatozoa within either the cervix or the uterus had no material effect on the number of polymorphs found in the cervix. The presence of spermatozoa in ligated uterine horns caused an increase in the number of polymorphs migrating into the lumina of the horns, the response being manifest within 5 hr. The results indicate that drainage of polymorphs from the uterus into and through the cervix is a normal occurrence in ruminants which may reduce the incidence of phagocytosis of spermatozoa in the uterus.