Sperm reservoir in the oviduct of llama and progress in the study of the proteolytic systems involved

APICHELA, SILVANA A.

Montevideo

Mesa redonda; XXII Reunión de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal. Mesa Redonda: Camélidos Sudamericanos; 2011

ALPA

In South American Camelids, ovulation occurs about 36 hours after mating. A sperm reservoir is formed in the of llama oviduct by sperm adhesion the mucosa, during until at least 28 hours after mating. Contribute to this process the anatomical design of the UUT, the characteristics of epithelial cell surface and a mechanism of recognition of oviductal carbohydrates, galactose and N-acetyl galactosamine, by the sperm. This mechanism would be also favored by seminal plasma components. 35 hours after mating, when ovulation is imminent, no sperm were seen attached to the oviduct, thus proposing a possible involvement of the oviduct in their release. We postulate that the oviduct would secrete enzymes capable of liquefying the seminal plasma to release sperm from the sperm reservoir.