TRANSPORTATION OF SPERM OUTSIDE GENITAL TRACT OF MALE 193 



known to be possible in the hen (Payne, '14). Active muscular contractions 

 are suggested, as sperm travel upward to the infundibulum of the oviduct in 

 about one and one-half hours in the hen. 



In the rabbit, antiperistaltic contractions of the cervix and body of the 

 uterus at the time of copulation pump or suck the sperm through the os uteri 

 from the vagina and transport them into the uterus at its cervical end (Parker, 

 '31 ). This transportation occupies about one to three minutes. Passage through 

 the body of the uterus to the Fallopian tube occurs in one and one-half to 

 two hours after copulation. It is not clear whether sperm motility alone or 

 sperm motility plus uterine antiperistalsis effects this transportation. The trans- 

 port of the sperm upward through the Fallopian tube to the infundibular 

 region takes about two hours more. The behavior of the uterine (Fallopian) 

 tube is somewhat peculiar at this time. Churning movements similar to that 

 of the normal activity of the intestine are produced. Also, temporary longi- 

 tudinal constrictions of the wall of the tube produce longitudinal compart- 

 ments along the length of the tube. Within these compartments cilia beat 

 vigorously in an abovarian direction (i.e., away from the ovary). The general 

 result of these activities is a thorough mixing and churning of the contents 

 of the tubes. At the same time these movements succeed in transporting the 

 sperm up the tube to the infundibular area. The entire journey through the 

 uterus and Fallopian tube consumes about four hours (Hartman, '39, pp. 

 698-702; Parker, '31). 



Sperm transport through the female genital tract in the rabbit occupies a 

 relatively long period of time compared to that which obtains in certain other 

 mammalian species. The journey to the infundibular area of the Fallopian 

 tube takes only 20 minutes in the majority of cases in the ewe, following 

 normal service by the ram. The rate of sperm travel toward the ovaries is 

 approximately four cm. per minute (Schott and Phillips, '41). The passage 

 time through the entire female duct may be considerably less than this in the 

 guinea pig, dog, mouse, etc. (Hartman, '39, p. 698). It is probable that the 

 latter forms experience antiperistaltic muscular contractions of the uterine 

 cervix, uteri, and Fallopian tubes, which propel the sperm upward to the 

 infundibular region, the normal site of fertilization. 



In the marsupial group the lateral vaginal canals complicate the sperm 

 transport problem. In the opossum, the bifid terminal portion of the peniai 

 organ (fig. 114A) probably transmits the sperm to both lateral vaginal canals 

 simultaneously, where they are churned and mixed with the vaginal contents. 

 From the lateral vaginal canals the sperm are passed on to the median vaginal 

 cul-de-sac. From this compartment they travel by their own motive power 

 or are propelled upward through the uterus and Fallopian tubes to the infun- 

 dibular area of the latter (figs. 34, 35, 114). 



The foregoing instances regarding sperm transport in the female mammal 

 involve active muscle contractions presumably mediated through nerve im- 



