OBSERVATIONS ON THE TRANSPORT OF TUBAL OVA¹

Abstract

IT is NOT THE PURPOSE of this paper to review the extensive literature on ovum I transport because Westman (i), Parker (2), and Hartman (3) have excellent sum-maries of earlier theories and investigations. In this report we wish to present some direct observations on the passage of ova through the fallopian tubes of albino mice. These observations show that peristaltic movements rather than cilia are re-sponsible for the transportation of ova through the isthmus and intramural region Mating was determined by the vaginal plug method. At autopsy, the mesosalpinx was cut in several places so that the tightly-coiled oviduct could be somewhat straightened. The tracts were kept in warm Locke's solution (without glucose) in deep-well slides. Each ovary was checked for eruption cones of ovulation or for cor-pora lutea, and the position of ova within the oviduct was determined by means of transmitted light.