Objectives: To investigate the effects of different levels of hormones on t
he ciliary activity of human oviducts and, consequently, to assess their po
ssible role in tubal implantation of the fertilized egg.
Design: Fallopian tube epithelial samples were incubated in media with the
addition of Estradiol (E-2), progesterone (P), human menopausal gonadotropi
n (hMG), LH, or pure FSH (Metrodin) in different concentrations. The ciliar
y beat frequency (CBF) was measured after 24 h of incubation. Then the medi
a were exchanged to media without the addition of hormones and the CBF was
measured again 24 h later by suing the photoelectric technique.
Setting: University teaching hospital, IVF unit.
Results: Twenty-four hr after the addition of P to the culture medium in co
ncentrations of 0.5 or 1 ng/ml a significant decline of the CBF down to 63%
of the control level was observed (P < 0.001) and with P in concentration
of 2 ng/ml or greater, 50-70% of the cilia were paralyzed. These effects of
P were found to be reversible. Incubation with E2 induced a slight increas
e of 4% in the mean CBF (P = 0.002). Twenty-four hr incubation with Metrodi
n, Pergonal, or LH did nor affect ciliary motility.
Conclusions: Higher levels of progesterone cause ciliary dysfunction and su
bsequently may be a possible cause of ectopic pregnancy.