A HAEMAGGLUTINATING FACTOR IN BOAR SEMINAL PLASMA

Semen was collected by means of artificial vaginae from a number of animal species housed at the Animal Research Station. Boar semen was immediately strained through layers of muslin to remove any gel present. The gel-free fluid was then centrifuged at 5° C and the sperm-free seminal plasma supernate used immediately or stored at —20° C until required. Spermatozoa were prepared from fresh semen by centrifuging and washing with 'Sperm Ringer' solution (Mann, 1964, p. 347). Boar vesicular secretion was obtained from freshly excised seminal vesicles by expressing the fluids after dissection of the organ. Boar epididymal semen was obtained from freshly excised epididymides, following the method ofLasley & Bogart (1944) as described by Walton (1956). The epididymal seminal plasma was obtained by centrifuging the epididymal