title: Ultrastructural characterization of whole hydrosalpinx from infertile Chinese women.
abstract: Hydrosalpinx (HSP) has been shown to be detrimental to the outcome of assisted reproduction, but little is known of its pathology. This prospective study examined and detailed ultrastructural characterization of HSP of infertile women presenting for assisted reproductive treatments. Both light and electron microscopies were used to characterize HSP. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of HSP showed areas without epithelial cell lining or with abnormalities such as flattening of the epithelial layer and exfoliation of epithelial cells with occasional normal columnar epithelial lining. HSP muscle fibers were atrophic and occasionally replaced by fibrous tissues, or separated by areas of severe edema. Inflammatory cells could be found in hydrosalpinx fluid (HF) in the lumen in areas with flattened to no epithelial cells, without epithelial lining, as well as in dilated blood vessels and/or lymph vessels. Scanning electron microscopy of the epithelial surface revealed epithelial denudation-severe loss of both cilia and microvilli and stomata exuding globular bodies on eroded ampulla surfaces. Severe chronic inflammation and damage to the epithelial lining and musculature of Fallopian tubes and the presence of inflammatory cells provides an explanation for HF formation, and thus for the detrimental effects of HF on reproductive processes and IVF outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Louis Chukwuemeka
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ajonuma
authors.forename: Ernest Hung Yu
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Lin Nga
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Pak Ham
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Lai Sin
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Annie Nga Yin
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Lok Sze
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briton-Jones
authors.forename: Ingrid H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Hsiao Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies