Preovulatory ovum harvest and transfer to sterile and infective hydrosalpinges in the rabbit.

Preovulatory ova were harvested from ovarian follicles of eight doe rabbits and transferred into chronic sterile hydrosalpinges induced by infundibular ligation in four rabbits and into chronic infective hydrosalpinges in another four rabbits. Afterwards, normal pregnancies implanted in the uterine horns on the side of the transfer procedures in all four sterile hydrosalpinx rabbits, but in none of the uterine horns of the chronic infective hydrosalpinx group. This points to sequelae of infection rather than simple dilation of the oviductal ampulla as the more potent cause of infertility in the rabbit.