THE LOCALIZATION AND CONCENTRATION OF COPPER IN THE FALLOPIAN-TUBE INWOMEN WITH OR WITHOUT AN INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICE

The localization and concentration of copper in cryostat sections of h uman fallopian tubes from women using an intrauterine contraceptive de vice (IUCD) and controls was determined by light microscopic- and atom ic absorption spectrophotometric techniques. The copper was visually a ccumulated in the epithelium and the copper concentration in the tubal tissue was increased in the IUCD user group. We also measured the con centration of copper and ceruloplasmin in serum, but there was no stat istical difference between the two groups studied. Our results indicat e that the IUCD has effects beyond the uterine cavity. The accumulatio n of copper may be associated with earlier observations of the morphol ogical changes and infiltration of inflammatory cells observed in the fallopian tube in IUCD users.