TRANSPORT OF SPERMATOZOA AND OVA IN FEMALE ALPACA

Transport of spermatozoa and ova were studied in female alpaca. Fiftee n parous females were slaughtered at 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h and 30 h af ter a single copulation to determine the time taken for spermatozoa to reach the oviduct. Twelve parous females were slaughtered at 4 days, 7 days and 10 days after copulation to determine when the ovum reached the uterus. Spermatozoa and ova were collected by flushing portions o f the oviduct and uterus. Spermatozoa were present at the site of fert ilization 6 h after copulation and remained there for up to 30 h. Ther e was a retrograde sperm flow back to the uterus by 18 h after copulat ion. The utero-tubal junction was the main location where sperm were s tored. Fertilized ova at the morula stage were collected from oviducts by 4 days after copulation and compacted morulae by 7 days. Blastocys ts were collected from the uterine horn 10 days after copulation.