The Effects of Anti-sperm Antisera and Uterine Fluids on the Fertilizing Ability of Turkey Spermatozoa

Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of blood sera and uterine fluids, from turkey hens immunized against turkey semen, on the fertilizing ability of sperm cells. Sperm cells were incubated in the test materials (blood sera, uterine fluids or control diluents) and then inseminated into recipient hens. Pooled sera from immunized hens significantly reduced the fertilizing ability of the sperm cells, while sera from non-immunized hens did not. Uterine fluid from all groups severely reduced the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. Virgin hen uterine fluid was slightly, but not significantly, less harmful to spermatozoa than uterine fluid from birds exposed to spermatozoa (either by artificial insemination of AI preceded by immunization). Sera from individual immunized and non-immunized hens was tested for anti-fertility effects. Sera from 3 immunized hens with histories of low fertility severely depressed the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. Sera from 2 immunized hens with histories of high fertility had no effect on the fertilizing ability of sperm cells, while sera from one of these hens depressed it. Virgin hen sera had no significant effect on the spermatozoa. Uterine fluids from high and low fertility immunized hens were dialyzed against a buffer. Aliquots of the dialyzed material from high and low fertility birds were heated to destroy antibodies. These fluids were used as semen diluents. The unheated fluid from low fertility hens significantly depressed fertilizing ability of sperm cells.