[Ultrastructural changes in the spermatozoa of sheep infected with Brucella ovis]

The semen was studied of four rams of the Mutton Merino, Suffolk, "Kavkazki Merino* breeds and a local crossbred race, affected with infectious epididymitis and having semen deteriorated to a various extent, in order to establish the changes in the ultrastruct of spermatozoa through electron microscopy. The following conclusions were drawn on the basis of the results obtained: 1. The changes caused by Brucella ovis infection in such cases are chiefly concentrated in the head of spermatozoa. Detachment and rupture of the plasmalemma are observed along with the separation of the acrosome and galea capitis, swelling of the nuclear membrane, granulation and break-up of the nuclear matter. 2. The neck of spermatozoa where fast disintegration of the connective substance between it and the head and the complete separation of head and body take place, is slightly resistant. 3. The leucocytes in the semen phagocytize both Brucella organisms and a great number of spermatozoa (autophagocytosis of spermatozoa on a mass scale). The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa breaks up, and the leucocytes are ysed.