The filling and emptying of the uterovaginal sperm-host glands in the domestic hen.

In a series of three replicated experiments, dwarf hens were inseminated with semen of one phenotype (normal or dwarf) and then reinseminated 4 hr later with semen of the other phenotype. All eggs were pedigree-hatched for two weeks following the inseminations. Subsequent phenotypic determinations of the progeny demonstrated a preponderance of offspring from the latter insemination. The results suggested that spermatozoa sequentially filled the uterovaginal sperm-host glands which produced a permanent stratification of sperm cells, and mixing did not occur within a gland. Emptying of the host-glands appeared to follow a pattern of slow superficial leakage where spermatozoa from the second insemination were the first spermatozoa released, giving rise to the large number of progeny phenotypes from the second insemination. In addition, progeny phenotypes from the second insemination were predominant throughout the fertility period suggesting that the storage capacity of the uterovaginal sperm-host glands can exceed the functional life span of stored spermatozoa following a normal insemination.