Embryo transfer through the wall of the fallopian tube in mice]

Two-cell mouse embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization were transferred into the ampulla of the fallopian tubes of pseudopregnant recipients through the wall of the tubes on day 1 of pseudopregnancy. A total of 112 embryos were transferred to 7 pseudopregnant recipients and 68 young (60.7%) were born.     

Energy metabolism of the human fallopian tube.

The consumption of oxygen (QO2), the production of lactate and the profile of four key metabolic enzymes were measured in small samples of human oviductal mucosa (endosalpinx) removed at surgery. The QO2 in the absence of substrate was 3.4 microliters O2 (mg dry wt)-1 h-1, a value typical of quiescent tissue. The QO2 was stimulated by glucose, but diminished by glutamine and acetoacetate. Tissue lactate production was low and not increased by glucose. Hexokinase had the highest activity of the enzymes measured, followed by 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase; 6-phosphofructokinase and glycogen phosphorylase had low activities. The data are consistent with the proposition that glucose is a major metabolic fuel for human endosalpinx.     

Expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 in primary fallopian tube carcinoma: correlations with clinicopathologic features

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 in primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC), as well as their correlations with clinicopathologic features. We studied a cohort of 33 patients with a pathological diagnosis of PFTC. Thirty normal tubal tissues used for controls were obtained from patients diagnosed with uterine myomas. Expression analysis for COX-2 and Bcl-2 was performed using the immunohistochemical technique. The rate of preoperative diagnosis was 18.2%. With a median survival of 61.0 months (95% CI: 43.2 to 78.8 months), the estimated five-year overall survival rate in the 33 patients was 39.0%. Increased expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 was observed in tumor specimens compared to normal controls (p = 0.026; p = 0.003). The expression rate of COX-2 in node-positive tumors was significantly higher than that of node-negative tumors (p = 0.024). Moreover, the expression rate of COX-2 was statistically significantly higher in patients with infiltration through the serosa (p = 0.019). Positive significant associations were observed between Bcl-2 staining index and FIGO stage (p = 0.015), and between Bcl-2 staining and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.010). There was a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and Bcl-2 staining index (r = 0.517, p = 0.002). We conclude that COX-2 and Bcl-2 may potentially be useful prognostic markers for PFTC. The exact molecular mechanism for correlations between COX-2 and Bcl-2 remains to be elucidated.     

Chlamydia trachomatis infection of human fallopian tube organ cultures

The pathogenic events that precede Chlamydia trachomatis salpingitis in the human fallopian tube have not been fully described. We used a model of human fallopian tubes in organ culture (HFTOC) infected with strain E/UW-5/CX of C. trachomatis to study these events. The model supported sustained C. trachomatis infection as demonstrated by recovery of viable C. trachomatis from medium and tissue over 5-7 d. However, the level of infectivity was low. Maximal infection occurred at 72 h after initial inoculation. In contrast to gonococcal infection of the HFTOC, C. trachomatis did not damage overall ciliary function of HFTOC. However, a local direct cytotoxic effect characterized by loss of microvilli and disruption of cell junctions was noted when multiple chlamydial elementary bodies attached to mucosal cells. Beginning at 24 h, and continuing throughout the course of C. trachomatis infection of HFTOC, ruptured epithelial cells releasing elementary bodies were noted. Chlamydial inclusions were seen in the mucosa by 72 h in approximately 6% of both ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells. Mucosal inclusions contained all forms of the C. trachomatis developmental cycle. These data suggest that factors present in the human fallopian tube may limit susceptibility to chlamydial infection but support the use of the HFTOC model in the study of the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis salpingitis.     

Amino acids in cat fallopian tube and follicular fluids

Aminograms of tubal and follicular fluids were obtained using fluids collected by aspiratory puncture from six cats. The amino acids were separated and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The serum of the cats was used as control. The three most prevalent amino acids quantified in cat tubal fluid were glycine, glutamic acid, and taurine. Their mean concentrations were 840 μmol/l (μm), 808 μm and 596 μm, respectively. The three most prevalent amino acids quantified in cat follicular fluid were alanine, glutamine, and taurine. Their mean concentrations were 359 μm, 351 μm, and 258 μm, respectively. This result is consistent with aminograms of tubal fluid previously determined in other mammals. As previously observed in other species and humans, glycine was quantitatively the most abundant and most prevalent free amino acid in cat tubal fluid. The total quantity of amino acids in tubal fluid was similar in cats and other species. However, in contrast with other species studied, hypotaurine was not detected in tubal and follicular fluids of female cats.     

Cytologic studies of the fallopian tube in patients undergoing salpingo-oophorectomy

Background

Mounting evidence suggests the fallopian tube as the origin for ovarian high grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). We attempted to identify the tubal cytological features that allow us to distinguish malignant from benign conditions.

Methods

Tubal specimens (n = 56) were collected from patients who underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) due to various clinical indications. A standard procedure to collect fallopian tube brushings from freshly received surgical specimens was developed. Cytological diagnoses were classified into three categories: benign, atypical, and suspicious for malignancy/malignant. Cytological variables of individual cells and epithelia were subjected to statistical analysis. The fallopian tube histology was used as diagnostic reference for confirmation of cytology diagnosis.

Results

Among the 56 fallopian tube specimens, 2 (3.7 %) showed inadequate cellularity preventing further evaluation, 11 (20.4 %) were diagnosed as malignant or suspicious of malignancy, 7 were atypical, and 36 were benign. The presence of three dimensional clusters (p < 0.0001, Fisher’s Exact Test), or prominent nucleoli (p = 0.0252, Fisher Exact test) was highly correlated with the diagnosis of malignancy. The suspicious malignant/malignant cytological diagnosis was also highly correlated with presence of HGSC with or without serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC).

Conclusions

Tubal cytology may be useful for ovarian cancer screening and early detection.

     

The expression of receptivity markers in the fallopian tube epithelium

Pinopodes represent the morphological and integrins, the biomollecular markers of endometrial receptivity. We studied using scanning electron microscopy, the expression of pinopodes on tubal samples and their corresponding endometria, from 21 women of reproductive age (7 from proliferative phase, 7 from day LH +5 and 7 from day LH +7). In addition, we examined the immunohistochemical staining of integrins αvβ3, αvβ5 and their ligands, fibronectin (FN) and osteopontin (OPN) in the same tubal epithelium samples. Pinopodes were detected on the tubal epithelium exclusively during day LH +7, coincident with their formation in the endometrium and synchronous to αvβ3 sharp increase in the oviduct epithelium, suggesting a regulation similar to the endometrium. In contrast, αvβ5, FN and OPN remained unchanged during the cycle. These results show for the first time the formation of pinopodes in the tubal epithelium at the time of endometrial receptivity and correlate it with the upregulation of the intact dimmer αvβ3 in the tubes.     

Isolation and monolayer culture of human fallopian tube epithelial cells

Summary In the present study we have established a pure monolayer culture system of human fallopian tube epithelial cells. The cells were isolated using collagenase digestion, and were cultured in Medium 199 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum. The epithelial cells derived from primary and secondary culture were characterized using immunocytochemical staining and electron microscopy. The cells continued to grow for 2 to 3 wk once the monolayer culture of the cells was established. It is currently possible to maintain the cultures until the third generation. Proliferation of these cells was enhanced by epidermal growth factor but not by basic-fibroblast growth factor, insulin, transferrin, estradiol-17β, or progesterone. This culture system offers a good model for determining characteristics of the tubal epithelium and would permit effective study of co-culture with embryos.     

Utility and diagnostic accuracy of fallopian tube touch imprint cytology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of cytology smears in distinguishing between tube and non-tube structures. METHODS: One hundred cytology smears of fallopian tube and non-tube structures (vessels, round and ovarian ligaments) were prepared from surgically removed uterus and fallopian tube specimens and stained by the Papanicolaou method. The slides were reviewed blindly by pathologists and interpreted as tube or non-tube structures. The results were compared to the histological examination of the same specimens. FINDINGS: Results indicated an overall accuracy of 97% with a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 96% for cytology smears, taking histology as the gold standard. Positive and negative predictive values were 96.1% and 97.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cytology smears are a convenient and cost effective tool for laboratory confirmation of tubal sterilization. This method can reduce the costs of laboratory examination, especially in developing countries, where tubal sterilizations are done in large cohorts. However, histological slides remain the gold standard in cases of medicolegal problems.     

Prostaglandin F in the fallopian tube secretion of the ewe

Oviducal secretions were obtained from conscious unrestrained ewes throughout the oestrous cycle via indwelling cannulae and the content of prostaglandin F (PGF) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Levels of PGF of up to 230 ng/ml were found in oviducal fluids obtained from ewes showing regular patterns of secretion and normal cyclical ovarian function as indicated by plasma progesterone measurement. Relatively large day to day fluctuations in content were evident, but there was no consistent relationship between concentration and stage of the oestrous cycle. Concentrations of PGF in excess of 100 ng/ml were common in preparations where autopsy later revealed infection or tissue irritation, and the concentration of PGF invariably exceeded 75 ng/ml when the concentration of protein in the oviducal fluid was abnormally high.