Composition of Rabbit Oviduct Fluid in Ligated Segments of the Fallopian Tube

Abstract

Summary. Forty-six, mature, New Zealand white does were used for collection of fluid from the Fallopian tubes. Ligation of the tubes into four isolated segments was carried out with minimal disturbance to the blood supply, using an operating microscope. The volume of fluid collected decreased from the fimbriated end to the utero-tubal junction.Analysis of the chemical constituents of the fluid from the first three segments showed that the concentration of sodium, bicarbonate, inorganic phosphate, proteins and lactic acid increased significantly from the fimbriated end to the utero-tubal junction, while chloride concentration decreased significantly. These results support the possibility that the different segments of the oviduct may play specific roles in early events of reproduction.

Calcium regulation of the soluble adenylyl cyclase expressed in mammalian spermatozoa

“…Whether changes in the concentration of HCO 3 Ϫ in spermatozoa occur during capacitation is at present unknown. However, it is well established that ejaculated spermatozoa are exposed to 10-30 mM of HCO 3 Ϫ in the seminal and reproductive tract fluid (57)(58)(59).…”

Studies on the Movement of Glucose, Pyruvate and Lactate Into the Ampulla and Isthmus of the Rabbit Oviduct

“…The ciliated cells are thought to play a role in gamete transport, the secretory cells in the formation of oviduct fluid. David, Brackett, Garcia & Mastroianni (1969) ligated regions of the rabbit oviduct, and found significant differences in the composition of the fluid accumulated after three days by the ampulla, the ampullary-isthmic region and the isthmus. Leese & Jeffries (1977) examined the appearance of endogenous glucose in fluid recirculated through the lumen of the rabbit oviduct for 4 h in vivo, and obtained evidence that the glucose moved by facilitated diffusion.…”

“…Each nutrient appeared in the lumen of the ampulla at approximately 1 8 times its rate in the lumen of the isthmus. David et al (1969) reported that the concentration of lactic acid in the rabbit isthmus after three days ligation was 64-78 ,tg/ml and in the ampulla, 34-36 ,tg/ml. Taking into account the volume of fluid accumulated in the two regions (032 and 1 15 ml respectively), the total lactate appearance in the experiments of David et al was 39-5,ug/3 d in the ampulla and 20-7 ,g/3 d in the isthmus; the ratio of total lactate appearance in the ampulla to that in the isthmus (1 92) is therefore very close to that reported for the acute experiments in the present paper, in which fluid transport was not measured.…”

Fixation of Carbon Dioxide by Pre-Implantation Mouse Embryos in Vitro and the Activities of Enzymes Involved in the Process

“…Large amounts of bicarbonate are present in the secretions of the oviduct of the rabbit and ewe (David et al 1969;Restall and Wales 1966). If similar concentrations of bicarbonate are also present in the secretions of the mouse oviduct, they would provide a suitable environment for this process to occur and a considerable gain in carbon by the embryo could result.…”