Oviductal Ovum Surrogate Movement: Interrelation with Muscular Activity11

Abstract

Oviductal ovum surrogate movements were studied to determine the interrelation with muscular activity. Oviducts were removed from rabbits 68 hours after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin to induce ovulation and placed in a lucite organ bath in oxygenated Tyrodes solution. A surrogate ovum was placed 1-2 cm into the fimbral end of the oviduct and electrodes placed on the surface of the circular muscle in the region of the ampullary-isthmic-junction. Usually surrogate ova moved rapidly then moved up to 1.5 cm in a few seconds. Motion was visually clearly related to muscular activity close to the surrogate. There is lack of obvious directionality in the propagation of electrical activity. Although the cilia may effect passage by inducing fluid flow it is muscular activity which provides the primary propulsive forces.