THE EFFECT OF OVARIAN-STEROIDS ON EPITHELIAL CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY IN THE HUMAN FALLOPIAN-TUBE

Using a method that detects variations in light intensity we have stud ied the effect of ovarian steroids on human Fallopian tube epithelial ciliary beat frequency in vitro. We have found that baseline ciliary b eat frequency averages between 5-6 Hz. Cilia from ampullary segments o f the Fallopian tube beat significantly faster (5.4 Hz +/- 0.2) than t hose from fimbrial segments (4.8 Hz +/- 0.2). There was no significant difference in baseline ciliary beat frequency at any other anatomical site in the Fallopian tube. Incubation with progesterone (10 mu mol/l ) suppresses human Fallopian tube epithelial ciliary beat frequency by 40-50%. This inhibition was observed at similar magnitudes in all Fal lopian tubes studied irrespective of anatomical site. Progesterone-ind uced reductions in ciliary beat frequency were concentration dependent and prevented by the progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone (R U486), Oestradiol alone (10 mu mol/l) had no effect on ciliary beat fr equency at any anatomical site in the Fallopian tube but did prevent t he reduction in ciliary beat frequency seen with progesterone when tis sues were incubated with these two steroids together.