EFFECT OF MATING, ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION, AND FRIGHT ON UTERINE MOTILITY OF THE ESTROUS EWE

Pressure changes inside the uterine wall were recorded by telemetry in six oestrous Awassi ewes during natural hand mating and AI, and in two oestrous ewes during fright caused by the presence of dogs. During control periods, the average frequency of primary pressure peaks was 3.7/min, their average amplitude was 29.6 cm H2O pressure, and there was an average of 2.5 secondary peaks per primary pressure peak. During AI or natural mating these parameters were 1.1-1.7 and during fright 1.1-1.3 times their control values, on the average. The experimental treatments caused practically no after effects. The results do not support the hypothesis that sperm transport in artificially inseminated ewes is impaired by inhibition of uterine motility. Other explanations are offered. © 1979.