Fertility following intrauterine insemination near the time of oviposition.

The fate and fertility of semen deposited immediately following oviposition in the vicinity of the uterovaginal sperm host glands (USHG) was evaluated and compared with the semen deposited in the vagina. Intrauterine insemination of hens immediately after oviposition provided excellent fertility over a 2-wk period, compared to semen deposited in the vagina; also, 89% of the eggs laid within 25 h following intrauterine insemination were fertile, versus 33% following intravaginal insemination. Thus, spermatozoa deposited in the vicinity of the USHG immediately following oviposition (to simulate a release of spermatozoa from this region) can be transported to the infundibulum and effectively fertilize the next ovum ovulated. While some spermatozoa deposited in the uterus are transported to the infundibulum, the bulk of those retained in the oviduct populate the USHG. Thus, oviductal contractions immediately following oviposition do not adversely influence either the retention of spermatozoa or their incorporation into the USHG if the spermatozoa are placed on the uterine side of the uterovaginal junction.