In vivo imaging of ram spermatozoa in the ewe genital tract using fibered confocal microscopy

X. Druart (1) , Juliette Cognie (1) , G. Baril (2) , F. Clement (3) , J.-L. Dacheux (1) , J.-L. Gatti (1)

1 INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
2 TOURS UPEA PRC - Unité Pluri-espèces d'Expérimentation Animale en Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements
3 SISYPHE - SIgnals and SYstems in PHysiology & Engineering

Sperm transit in the female tract is one of the key factors in the success of fertilization after artificial insemination in sheep species. However, its study is limited by the absence of in vivo imaging methods. The imaging of ram sperm in the female genital tract was made possible using the confocal fibered microscopy and fluorescent stains adapted to spermatozoa. Our results show the active role of the uterotubal junction in the selection of sperm during their transit.

Mots clés: SPERM; IN VIVO IMAGING; FERTILITY

Mots clés: IMAGERIE IN VIVO; TRACTUS GENITAL FEMELLE; TRANSIT; MICROSCCOPIE CONFOCALE; FEMALE GENITAL TRACT

Domaines: Biologie de la reproduction

X. Druart, Juliette Cognie, G. Baril, F. Clement, J.-L. Dacheux, et al.. In vivo imaging of ram spermatozoa in the ewe genital tract using fibered confocal microscopy. Gynécologie Obstétrique & Fertilité, 2011, 39 (11), pp.633-635. ⟨10.1016/j.gyobfe.2011.09.007⟩. ⟨hal-00776193⟩