DISTRIBUTION OF SPERMATOZOA IN THE OVIDUCT AND FERTILITY IN DOMESTIC BIRDS

Abstract

Histochemical tests in the uterovaginal region of the mature domestic fowl have demonstrated that sperm-host glands, and to a lesser extent transitional glands, contain glycogen. Uterine glands and epithelial tissue contain either no carbohydrate or only mucopolysac-charides. The host glands contained a lipid in granules which is pre-sumably secretory; this may be an atypical phospholipid or one which is present as a complex with other substances. No discrete sites of protein synthesis were observed. They also secrete acid phosphatase but not potassium. The functions of these substances have not yet been determined.