Have the Fallopian tubes a vital rôle in promoting fertility?*

Hunter, Richard

doi:10.1034/j.1600-0412.1998.770501.x

Cited by 59 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Introduction of secondary oocytes directly into the uterine cavity in combination with insemination can generate full-term pregnancies. A substantial overlap in the composition of tubal and uterine fluids in primates may be a principal explanation for such success [31].…”

Section: The Key Questionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fallopian tubes in domestic mammals: how vital is their physiological activity?

Hunter¹

2005

Reprod. Nutr. Dev.

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-Set in an historical perspective, this essay examines diverse physiological aspects of Fallopian tube function in domestic animals and man. Microsurgical experiments are described that established the role of the isthmus in imposing a sperm gradient up to the site of fertilisation. Resection of the isthmus followed by reanastomosis of the remaining portions of the tube generated a high incidence of polyspermy in mated animals. Scanning electron microscopy and surgical studies revealed that spermatozoa were arrested and stored in the caudal portion of the isthmus before ovulation, the so-called functional sperm reservoir. There were specific adhesion contacts between the sperm head and endosalpingeal microvilli or cilia. Further experiments indicated that very large numbers of competent spermatozoa could be released from pre-ovulatory binding by microinjections of a solution of progesterone in oil under the serosal layer of the tube: when suitably timed, such treatment led to a high incidence of polyspermic fertilisation. Avid sperm binding in the caudal isthmus before ovulation prevents myosalpingeal activity leading to abnormal fertilisation, as might occur with multiple mating. Temperatures in the reproductive system were assessed and the caudal isthmus was found to be cooler than the ampulla during the pre-ovulatory phase of sperm storage. Finally, the existence of fluid microenvironments within the Fallopian tubes was reported, and the role of suspended cumulus-corona cells in amplifying signals from the zygote examined. An impact of Fallopian tube fluids on embryonic gene expression was also considered -an influence that may be further imposed if such fluids have access to the uterine lumen. tubal anastomosis / isthmus / sperm gradient / fertilisation / polyspermy / microenvironments / temperature

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Section: The Key Questionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fallopian tubes in domestic mammals: how vital is their physiological activity?

Hunter¹

2005

Reprod. Nutr. Dev.

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“…The regulation of oviductin secretion [116] might be an example. 49 Schematic drawing (not to scale): cross section of the human fallopian tube wall, ampular region. Numbers represent the relative density of t-ICC in a given area (percentage of t-ICC out of all cells seen in that area).…”

Section: T-icc: Possible Regulators Of Neurotransmission and Intercelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, histologic findings in fallopian tubes have been only sporadically described [47,48], although fallopian tubes have a vital (subtle) role in promoting human fertility [49]. Albeit in mammals fertilization and early embryo development take place in the fallopian tube [50], a mystery remains: how this organ manages to orchestrate the transfer [47] so that spermatozoa moving towards the ovary and the egg moving away from the ovary meet in the right place, at the right time, for fertilization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel type of interstitial cell (Cajal-like) in human fallopian tube

et al. 2005

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We describe here ‐ presumably for the first time‐a Cajal‐like type of tubal interstitial cells (t‐ICC), resembling the archetypal enteric ICC. t‐ICC were demonstrated in situ and in vitro on fresh preparations (tissue cryosections and primary cell cultures) using methylene‐blue, crystal‐violet, Janus‐Green B or Mito Tracker‐Green FM Probe vital stainings. Also, t‐ICC were identified in fixed specimens by light microscopy (methylene‐blue, Giemsa, trichrome stainings, Gomori silver‐impregnation) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The positive diagnosis of t‐ICC was strengthened by immunohistochemistry (IHC; CD117/c‐kit+ and other 14 antigens) and immunofluorescence (IF; CD117/c‐kit+ and other 7 antigens). The spatial density of t‐ICC (ampullar‐segment cryosections) was 100–150 cells/mm2. Non‐conventional light microscopy (NCLM) of Epon semithin‐sections revealed a network‐like distribution of t‐ICC in lammina propria and smooth muscle meshwork. t‐ICC appeared located beneath of epithelium, in a 10–15μ thick ‘belt’, where 18±2% of cells were t‐ICC. In the whole lamina propria, t‐ICC were about 9%, and in muscularis ∼7%. In toto, t‐ICC represent ∼8% of subepithelial cells, as counted by NCLM. In vitro, t‐ICC were 9.9±0.9% of total cell population. TEM showed that the diagnostic ‘gold standard’ (Huizinga et al., 1997) is fulfilled by ‘our’ t‐ICC. However, we suggest a ‘platinum standard’, adding a new defining criterion ‐ characteristic cytoplasmic processes (number: 1–5; length: tens of μm; thickness: ±0.5μ; aspect: moniliform; braching: dichotomous; organization: network, labyrinthic‐system). Quantitatively, the ultrastructural architecture of t‐ICC is: nucleus, 23.6±3.2% of cell volume, with heterochromatin 49.1±3.8%; mitochondria, 4.8±1.7%; rough and smooth endoplasmic‐reticulum (1.1±0.6%, 1.0±0.2%, respectively); caveolae, 3.4±0.5%. We found more caveolae on the surface of cell processes versus cell body, as confirmed by IF for caveolins. Occasionally, the so‐called ‘Ca2+‐release units’ (subplasmalemmal close associations of caveolae+endoplasmic reticulum±mitochondria) were detected in the dilations of cell processes. Electrophysiological single unit recordings of t‐ICC in primary cultures indicated sustained spontaneous electrical activity (amplitude of field potentials: 57.26±6.56mV). Besides the CD117/c‐kit marker, t‐ICC expressed variously CD34, caveolins 1&2, α‐SMA, S‐100, vimentin, nestin, desmin, NK‐1. t‐ICC were negative for: CD68, CD1a, CD62P, NSE, GFAP, chromogranin‐A, PGP9.5, but IHC showed the possible existence of (neuro)endocrine cells in tubal interstitium. We call them ‘JF cells’. In conclusion, the identification of t‐ICC might open the door for understanding some tubal functions, e.g. pace‐making/peristaltism, secretion (auto‐, juxta‐ and/or paracrine), regulation of neurotransmission (nitrergic/purinergic) and intercellular signaling, via the very long processes. Furthermore, t‐ICC might even be uncommitted bipotential progenitor cells.

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“…Uterine tubes are biologically active, providing an environment that enhances and supports fertilization and early embryonic development as the embryo travels toward the uterine cavity (Tazuke & Giudice 1996, Hunter 1998. In order to complete these events there is an embryonic -maternal dialogue in which the embryo and the maternal reproductive tract induce changes in each other to promote embryonic and endometrial maturation (Ghosh & Sengupta 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production and localization of activins and activin type IIA and IIB receptors by the human endosalpinx

Refaat

Bahathiq²,

Sockanathan³

et al. 2004

Reproduction

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Fallopian tubes from ten premenopausal women were collected and examined for the presence of inhibin, activin and its type IIA and IIB receptors (ActRIIA and ActRIIB) in the endosalpinx. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated clear staining for the bA, bB subunits and ActRIIA and ActRIIB that increased in intensity from the isthmus to the ampulla. No staining for the a subunit was observed. Whilst the staining of the bA subunit and ActRIIA was seen in almost every epithelial cell, staining for the bB subunit and ActRIIB was more variable. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR confirmed the presence of mRNA for the bA, bB subunits and ActRIIA and ActRIIB. These results indicated that the epithelium of the uterine tube is able to synthesize activin but not inhibin and has receptors for activin. Activins may thus act as paracrine regulators of tubal epithelial cell function, and embryonic activity may also bind to epithelial receptor and initiate intracellular processes that alter epithelial cell secretions.

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Have the Fallopian tubes a vital rôle in promoting fertility?*

Cited by 59 publications

References 76 publications

The Fallopian tubes in domestic mammals: how vital is their physiological activity?

The Fallopian tubes in domestic mammals: how vital is their physiological activity?

Novel type of interstitial cell (Cajal-like) in human fallopian tube

Production and localization of activins and activin type IIA and IIB receptors by the human endosalpinx

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