OVIDUCTAL SPERM RESERVOIRS IN LLAMAS

APICHELA, SILVANA A.; JIMÉNEZ DÍAZ, MARÍA; MICELI, DORA C.

Santa María - Catamarca

Congreso; IV Congreso Mundial sobre Camélidos; 2006

Consejo Federal de Inversiones, Min. Prod. y Desarr. Prov. Catamarca, Fundación Biodiversidad

Ovulation in South American camelids (SAC) occurs 36 h after mating. The question was whether the oviduct could delay capacitation or maintain viability of spermatozoa until ovulation. Oviducts were obtained from adult females (CEA INTA Abra Pampa, Argentina) 6, 18, 23, 28 and 34 h after mating. The oviducts were grouped according to the ovarian phase (mature or growth phase) and flushed with Tris buffer. The utero-tubal junction (UTJ), isthmus and ampulla were dissected separately, fixed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and PAS/AB. The UTJ glycocalyx reacted intensively with PAS/AB while secretory cells from isthmus and ampulla were PAS positive but AB negative (without reaction). No histochemical differences were observed between the ovarian phases assayed. Interaction between spermatozoa and oviduct was studied using TEM and SEM. Sperm was found to adhere to the UTJ in samples obtained 6, 18, 24 and 28 h after mating regardless of the follicular phases. SEM showed spermatozoa interacting with the oviduct through their heads or being trapped in a viscous substance, which dotted the mucosa. This substance was not present in the oviduct of unmated females, suggesting a seminal origin. It seems that the sperm detaches later, because it was not observed 34 h after mating. These results suggest that the UTJ could be the sperm reservoir in SAC with participation of specific and non-specific factors.