Ultrastructure of Oviduct Epithelium of the Porcine in Estrus

Abstract

Cyclic changes of porcine oviduct epithelium studied by light microscopy were first reported by Snyder in 1923. UltrastructuraI features of the porcine oviduct epithelium have not yet been described. Electron microscopic studies of oviduct epithelium have been reported for only a few species. These reports have been recently reviewed by Nilsson and Relnius. This report describes the fine structure of, the oviduct epithelium and attempts to elucidate the mechanism of ciliogenesis and the secretory process in the porcine during estrus.Tissue sections from the fimbria and ampulla were fixed in cold 3% cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde (pH 7.4), post-fixed in 1% osmic acid and embedded in Epon. Ultra-thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined in a RCA 3-G electron microscope operated at 100 kv.The epithelium of the tubal mucosa consists of secretory and ciliated cells. The cells are columnar and rest on a common basement membrane, which is about 50 mμ thick. The distal or free borders of the surface epithelial cells possess few irregular microvilli. The membranes of adjacent cells show tight intercellular junctions and macula adhaerentes (Figs. 1, 2).