PATENCY OF THE UTEROTUBAL JUNCTION OF THE RABBIT: EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS WITH THE AID OF CO2INSUFFLATION (RUBIN METHOD)1

Abstract

The uterus and tubes of 48 living rabbits were insufflated 66 times in order to observe the tonicity of the uterotubal junction. There was great variation in the degree of patency at each stage of the estrous cycle. There was no correlated typical pressure pattern. The degree of patency of the right and left uterotubal junction was frequently different. The uterotubal junction appears to be guarded by a sphincter-like apparatus and polypoid projections, which offer greater resistance to gas passing upward from the uterus than downward toward the uterus.