Development of zygotes in cultured mouse oviducts. II. The influence of the estrous cycle and ovarian hormones upon the development of the zygote

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Abstract
Ampullae explanted from mice at different stages of the estrous cycle were able to maintain the development of zygotes transferred to them in organ culture. A cyclical variation was observed; the maxium number of zygotes developed into blastocysts within ampullae explanted at metestrus 1, and the least number of zygotes developed within ampullae explanted from mice in diestrus. Such evidence indicates that there are cyclical functional changes in the mouse oviduct during the estrous cycle.Ampullae explanted from spayed mice previously treated with estradiol were able to maintain zygote development to a significantly greater extent than those removed from untreated spayed controls. Pre‐treatment of spayed mice with progesterone did not increase the number of zygotes developing within the explanted ampulla. Also, progesterone had no effect when given in combination with estradiol.