Faculty of Veterinary Science
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The ostrich and emu industries are major contributors to the South African economy. The focus of reproductive research on these ratites has shifted from natural forms of breeding to artificial insemination. Although semen is generally deposited in the cloaca, it is the vaginal region of the oviduct that plays an important role in the survival of spermatozoa. Anatomically, the vaginal region in birds is homologous to the cervical region of mammals. A gross anatomical assessment of the oviducts of the mature ostrich and emu revealed the presence of mucosal folds in the vaginal region, which form a structure similar to the mammalian cervix. It is generally accepted that the mucosal folds in the cervical region of mammals impede the progress of defective spermatozoa. Based on the similarity of the mucosal folds in the vaginal region of the ratites studied and the cervix of mammals, it is possible that the functions of these two regions are comparable. Ultrastructurally, the epithelium lining the mucosal folds in the ostrich and emu was a combination of mucin-laden ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Research conducted on mammalian species has shown that cervical mucus either blocks or facilitates spermatozoal migration, depending on its viscosity. Physiological studies need to be carried out on ratises to determine the role of vaginal mucus in sperm survival
Contact person: Prof M-CN Madekurozwa.
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