Enhanced and co-ordinated movement of the hamster oviduct during the periovulatory period

Abstract

The movement of the hamster oviduct in vivo was examined after injection of a small quantity of India ink into the lowermost region of the isthmus. An active and co-ordinated movement of both the isthmus and ampulla that caused a rapid transport of the ink to the upper ampulla (and eventually to the ovarian bursa) was observed shortly before, during and within a few hours after ovulation. During the rest of the estrus cycle, no ink was transported to the upper ampulla despite active contractile movement by the isthums. The oviduct as a whole evidently exhibits an efficient contractile movement suited for sperm transport only during the periovulatory period.