Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF )
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (42)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Williams, M.
Right arrow Articles by Barratt, C.L.R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Williams, M.
Right arrow Articles by Barratt, C.L.R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 12, pp. 2019-2026, 1993
© 1993 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

review-article

Physiology: Sperm numbers and distribution within the human Fallopian tube around ovulation

M. Williams1,4, C.J. Hill2, I. Scudamore1, B. Dunphy3, I.D. Cooke1 and C.L.R. Barratt1

1University Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jessop Hospital for Women Sheffield S3 7RE 2Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN, UK 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Foothills Hospital 1403-29 St N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 2TN, Canada

Correspondence: 4To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Assisted Conception Unit, Walsgrave Hospital NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Walsgrave, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK

This study aimed to determine the number and distribution of spermatozoa within the human Fallopian tubes around ovulation. Parous women, undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for menorrhagia, were inseminated with either partner's semen (3/10) or donor semen (7/10). Approximately 18 h later both Fallopian tubes were ligatured into ampullary, isthmic and intramural regions. These were removed and assessed for sperm content by flushing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or homogenization. A median of 251 spermatozoa were recovered (range, 79–1386). The number of spermatozoa within each tube was not significantly different. The ovulatory ampulla contained a significantly (P ≤ 0.01) larger percentage of spermatozoa than the non-ovulatory ampulla. The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was not significantly correlated to the number of spermatozoa recovered, but a trend was identified. The time between the onset of the luteinizing hormone surge and hysterectomy was significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.01) to the number of spermatozoa within the intramural regions, but not to the tubal sperm distribution. Spermatozoa were not observed, by SEM, bound to the tubal epithelium. These data suggest that, after artificial insemination at least, sperm access to the human Fallopian tube may be controlled, but that ovulation does not affect the redistribution of spermatozoa between tubal regions and that the isthmus does not appear to act specifically as a sperm reservoir.

Key words: Fallopian tubes/human sperm transport/ovulation/storage


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
T. L. Tollner, A. I. Yudin, A. F. Tarantal, C. A. Treece, J. W. Overstreet, and G. N. Cherr
Beta-Defensin 126 on the Surface of Macaque Sperm Mediates Attachment of Sperm to Oviductal Epithelia
Biol Reprod, March 1, 2008; 78(3): 400 - 412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
R.A. Lyons, E. Saridogan, and O. Djahanbakhch
The reproductive significance of human Fallopian tube cilia
Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2006; 12(4): 363 - 372.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
C. Jimenez-Gonzalez, F. Michelangeli, C.V. Harper, C.L.R. Barratt, and S.J. Publicover
Calcium signalling in human spermatozoa: a specialized 'toolkit' of channels, transporters and stores
Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2006; 12(3): 253 - 267.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
S.S. Suarez and A. A. Pacey
Sperm transport in the female reproductive tract
Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2006; 12(1): 23 - 37.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
C. De Jonge
Biological basis for human capacitation
Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2005; 11(3): 205 - 214.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
A. Revelli, D. Ghigo, F. Moffa, M. Massobrio, and I. Tur-Kaspa
Guanylate Cyclase Activity and Sperm Function
Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2002; 23(4): 484 - 494.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
E. H. Yu Ng, L. C. Ajonuma, E. Yee Lan Lau, W. Shu Biu Yeung, and P. Chung Ho
Adverse effects of hydrosalpinx fluid on sperm motility and survival
Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 15(4): 772 - 777.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.