Turkey sperm oxygen consumption, motility, and percentage dead after incubation in tissue homogenates

Turkey oviductal segments and the most recent postovulatory follicle were removed from hens killed .25, 8 to 12, and 18 to 22 hr postoviposition (PO), homogenized, and centrifuged. Supernatant and precipitate fractions were lyophilized, and precipitates significantly increased sperm O2 consumption within the PO intervals, but no differences were observed within a segment between the PO intervals. Generally, both fractions decreased postincubation sperm motility and increased the percentage of dead spermatozoa within the PO intervals, but no differences were observed within a segment between the PO intervals. Magnal supernatants stimulated the least amount of O2 consumption while maintaining postincubation sperm motility and percentage dead levels comparable to control values. Sperm motility and percentage dead after incubation in infundibular supernatants were comparable to control levels yet stimulated O2 consumption about fourfold over that of controls. Uterine and uterovaginal junction supernatants stimulated sperm O2 consumption about fivefold over that of controls in spite of lowered postincubation sperm motility and higher percentage dead.