Abstract
Summary
To test the hypothesis that coitus enhances capacitation by stimulating pituitary release of gonadotropin, naturally mated mature rabbit does were treated with sodium pentobarbital. Pentobarbital reduced the number of ova fertilized in the capacitation test system to the level seen in unmated untreated does. Progestin levels measured in peripheral blood of the capacitator does treated with pentobarbital failed to increase following mating. Human chorionic gonadotropin given to pentobarbital-treated does increased the number of ova fertilized in the test system and restored the increase in peripheral progestin levels.
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