Fimbrial microbiopsy.
Microbiopsies from the fimbrial surface were obtained from 70 women to determine the percentage of ciliated cells. The following observations were made: 1. There is  a close correlation between the percentages of ciliated cells in each of the two oviducts; 2. The percentages of ciliated cells in normal, fertile women vary between 54 and 70 with no apparent variation between the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle; 3. The percentage of ciliated cells is reduced in hypoestrogenic amenorrhea, during pregnancy and during steroid contraception; 4. Ovarian endometriosis without tubal involvement is usually not associated with fimbrial reciliation, but sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease can be associated with deciliation of the fimbrial surface; 5. Two cases are reported in which the fimbrial surface showed extreme deciliation in association with sqamous metaplasia of the epithelium, possibly indicating defective ovum transport over the fimbrial surface.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia; D010066:Ovum Transport; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal