Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Sperm Maturation in Rabbit Epididymis

Nature volume 216, pages 816–818 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

IN mammals, spermatozoa mature while passing through the epididymis. Whether or not the factors governing the maturation process are intrinsic to the spermatozoa1 or whether they reside in the epididymal secretions2 is not known. In the rabbit, there are virtually no fertile spermatozoa in the caput or proximal corpus epididymidis, and fertilizing ability is suddenly acquired when the spermatozoa pass through the distal region of the corpus epididymidis3–6. This, and the fact that, in the rabbit, the normal time which spermatozoa spend in each epididymal segment is known7, makes this species especially suitable for investigating sperm maturation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Young, W. C., J. Exp. Biol., 8, 151 (1931).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tournade, A., CR Soc. Biol., 74, 738 (1913).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nishikawa, Y., and Waide, Y., Bull. Nat. Inst. Agric. Sci. Series G, No. 3, 68 (1952).

  4. Fulka, J., and Koefed-Johnsen, H. H., Ann. Rep. Roy. Vet. Agric. Coll. Steril. Austral., 213 (1966).

  5. Bedford, J. M., J. Exp. Zool., 163, 319 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Orgebin-Crist, M. C., Ann. Biol. Anim. Bioch. Biophys. (in the press).

  7. Orgebin-Crist, M. C., J. Reprod. Fertil., 10, 241 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

    M. C. ORGEBIN-CRIST

Authors
  1. M. C. ORGEBIN-CRIST
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ORGEBIN-CRIST, M. Sperm Maturation in Rabbit Epididymis. Nature 216, 816–818 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216816a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/216816a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing