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

Abstract

SUMMARYThe appearance of glucose, pyruvate and lactate in fluid recirculated through the lumen of the ampulla and isthmus of the rabbit oviduct has been followed for 2 h in vivo. Each nutrient appeared in the lumen of the ampulla at approximately 1 8 times its rate in the lumen of the isthmus. The circumference of the mucosa lining the two regions was measured together with the distribution of ciliated and secretory cells. The surface area of the mucosa lining the ampulla was 343 mm2, and that lining the isthmus, 191 mm2. It is tentatively suggested that the capacity of the ampulla and isthmus to transport small molecules is a function of their respective mucosal surface areas.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Human Oviduct: Localization and Regulation of Messenger RNA Expression In Vivo

“…Although the different findings in bovine and human oviducts may be a genuine species variation, they are more likely to be related to the immunostaining technique used in the bovine study, which was not quantitative [18]. In addition, the stronger expression of VEGF in the ampulla, where the surface area of oviductal epithelium is wider [29], than in the isthmus is consistent with the ampulla as the main site of oviductal secretion [19], where oviduct fluid supports the early reproductive events [1]. The female reproductive system undergoes a number of programmed cyclical processes during the course of the ovulatory cycle.…”

“…Angiogenesis, one well-recognized property of VEGF, occurs in the corpus luteum and the endometrium [27,28], but it is less likely to occur extensively in the oviduct. Our study revealed that the regional and temporal modulation of VEGF mRNA expression in oviduct is parallel to that of oviductal fluid secretion; both are more prominent in the ampulla than in the isthmus [19]. The mRNA expression of VEGF is positively correlated with serum gonadotropin levels, which will be high in the preovulatory period when the amount of oviductal fluid is the greatest [17].…”

“…However, to date, the relationships among gonadotropins, ovarian hormone production, and VEGF expression in the oviduct have not been investigated. More fluid is produced by cells in the ampulla, where the early reproductive events occur, than by cells in the isthmus [19]. However, the differences of VEGF expression in the various regions of the human oviduct have not yet been examined.…”

Morphometric Study of the Mare Oviductal Mucosa at Different Reproductive Stages

“…Possibly this is related to the fact that the ampulla appears to be the most active secretory region, where more fluid is produced by epithelial cells, supplying the necessary nutrients for gamete meeting, fertilization, and early cleavage of embryos. Leese (1983) found similar results in rabbit oviduct, where more fluid was produced in the ampulla than in the isthmic region, reflecting the greater surface area of the first one. Ampullary-isthmic junction during estrus had the smallest luminal perimeter and diameter compared with the samples obtained in anestrus and diestrus.…”

“…The internal morphometry of the different tubular regions of the oviduct have been studied in rabbit (Leese, ; Pedrero‐Badillo et al, ), bovine (Yániz et al, ), swine (Suárez, ), ovine (Yániz et al, ), and canine (England et al, ) oviducts. These previous studies described the internal diameter, the luminal area, luminal perimeter, and area of folds protruding into the oviduct lumen.…”