CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE RABBIT OVIDUCTAL EPITHELIUM AFTER HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN TREATMENT

An electron microscopic investigation was performed to examine the ult rastructural changes occurring in the rabbit oviductal epithelium afte r human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration. Mainly, the non-c iliated secretory cells proved to be affected by the hormonal treatmen t which resulted in qualitative and quantitative modifications of the secretory patterns differently expressed in the ampulla and isthmus. T hus, morphological evidence of intense secretion was observed in both the oviduct regions at preovulatory stages. Following ovulation, timin g of expression of active secretory patterns in the ampulla and isthmu s correlated well with the rate of gamete transport and relative funct ional roles of the oviductal regions in the reproductive process. At p resent, HCG-induced changes concerning the ciliated cells seem to cons ist of the occurrence of secretory granules responsible for the appear ance of ''mixed cells''.