Abstract
Trough intravital functional optical coherence tomography (OCT) in mouse models, this study investigates physiological processes within the fallopian tube in vivo. The transport of oocytes and embryos through the oviduct (fallopian tube) is a fundamental reproductive processes of clinical importance. However, because mammalian fertilization and embryogenesis take place deep within the female body, these processes are hidden from direct observation. Therefore, much of what we know about the innerworkings of the female reproductive tract is extrapolated from in vitro and ex vivo experimental settings and does not necessarily represent the native state, limiting success in management of reproductive disorders. This study presents first in vivo volumetric dynamic imaging of oocytes and embryos as they are transported through the mouse oviduct. By implementation of new functional OCT methods, we established methods for tracking oviductal ciliary function and individual sperm movements. Supported by dynamic volumetric visualizations, the study reveals a variety of intriguing never-before-seen dynamic behaviors and suggest new regulatory mechanisms driving reproductive processes.
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