caa a22 4500 445817208 CHVBK 20180317145232.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170323e20110301xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10815-010-9531-3 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10815-010-9531-3 Considerations of viscosity in the preliminaries to mammalian fertilisation [Elektronische Daten] [Ronald Hunter, P. Coy, J. Gadea, D. Rath] Migration of spermatozoa in the female genital tract will be strongly influenced by the viscosity of the fluids encountered, yet little systematic analysis has been given to such a consideration. This essay reviews the series of milieux confronting a fertilising sperm during its progression to the oviduct ampulla. Two groups are discussed, first those in which ejaculation is into the vagina, second those in which semen enters the uterus during a protracted mating. Viscous glycoprotein secretions that accumulate in the oviduct isthmus of both groups before ovulation are highlighted, as is the environment generated in the ampulla by the post-ovulatory suspension of oocyte(s), cumulus cells and spermatozoa; follicular and peritoneal fluids may also be present. The viscosity of all female tract fluids responds to cyclical variations in temperature, and these exist within the oviduct near the time of ovulation. Gradations in viscosity influence the pattern and strength of sperm flagellar activity and the rate of forward movement. Measurements of sperm motility are currently made in a physiological medium of constant viscosity and temperature, thereby overlooking changes in the female genital tract. A more sophisticated approach might reveal an adequate fertilising potential in a proportion of putatively poor semen samples. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2010 Semen nationallicence Sperm motility nationallicence Cervix nationallicence Uterus nationallicence Oviduct nationallicence Ovarian steroid hormones nationallicence Temperature gradients nationallicence Hunter Ronald Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Veterinary University, Bünteweg 15, 30559, Hannover, Germany aut Coy P. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain aut Gadea J. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain aut Rath D. Institute for Animal Breeding, Mariensee, Germany aut Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 28/3(2011-03-01), 191-197 1058-0468 28:3<191 2011 28 10815 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9531-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9531-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Hunter Ronald Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Veterinary University, Bünteweg 15, 30559, Hannover, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Coy P. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Gadea J. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Rath D. Institute for Animal Breeding, Mariensee, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 28/3(2011-03-01), 191-197 1058-0468 28:3<191 2011 28 10815 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer