A study of the time course of egg retention activity in the rabbit oviduct

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Changes in egg retention activity of the oviduct were assessed during the first 5 days after HCG[human chorionic gonadotropin]induced ovulation in rabbits. Dextran microspheres were used as ovum surrogates. They were injected into the peritoneal cavity at 0, 10, 32, 41, 50, 64, 72 and 80 h following HCG. The distribution of ova and surrogates in the genital tract was assessed 24 h following surrogate injection in all groups and at 8 h following surrogate injection in animals injected 50 h after HCG. The distribution of microspheres injected up to 50 h after HCG was similar to that of eggs. Surrogates were not retained at the ampullary-isthmic junction (AIJ) shortly after passage of ova through this region. Spheres injected 38 h after ovulation reached the eggs at the proximal isthmus in 8 h or less. Surrogates injected at 64 h following HCG or later were retained at the AIJ, indicating resumption of retaining activity at this level. Egg passage through the AIJ is probably associated with a temporary reduction of the retaining activity lasting for approximately 16 h. Retaining activity at the AIJ is regained before eggs pass from the proximal isthmus into the uterus.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: