The structural basis for transport through the Fallopian tube

Czech version

Authors: M. Kajanová ^1,2; Ľ. Danihel ³; Š. Polák ^2,4; M. Miko ²; L. Urban ^1,2; T. Bokor ³; I. Varga ^2,4
Authors‘ workplace: Gynekologicko-pôrodnícke oddelenie, ForLife Všeobecná Nemocnica v Komárne, primár MUDr. F. Tóth, PhD. ¹; Ústav histológie a embryológie, Lekárska fakulta, Univerzita Komenského, Bratislava, prednosta doc. MUDr. Š. Polák, CSc. ²; Ústav patologickej anatómie, Lekárska fakulta, Univerzita Komenského, Bratislava, prednosta prof. MUDr. Ľ. Danihel, PhD. ³; Univerzitné pracovisko reprodukčnej medicíny, 1. gynekologicko-pôrodnícka klinika, Lekárska fakulta a Univerzitná Nemocnica, Univerzita Komenského, Bratislava, prednosta prof. MUDr. L. Borovský, CSc. ⁴
Published in: Ceska Gynekol 2012; 77(6): 566-571

Overview

The Fallopian tube has until recently been a neglected structure, bypassed by in vitro fertilization and seen only as a tube that transports the oocyte or early embryo to the uterus. More recently, its role is even more undervalued after the introduction of techniques of assisted reproduction, in which the Fallopian tubes become like unnecessary. The Fallopian tube performs several important functions. It captures the oocyte after ovulation, maintains and controls the migration of spermatozoa to the site of fertilization. It provides the special microenvironment for fertilization; nourishes the early embryo while it is being carried to the uterus and amplifies signals from embryo to the mother. In our article we conducted a systematic review of relevant articles found in PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge, focused on the new insights into the functional morphology of Fallopian tube. We described the possible function of muscle layer motility, ciliary activity and tubal fluid movement on transport of gamets / embryo, as well as we mentioned the negative factors (such as smoking, chlamydial infection or endometriosis) affecting the transport through the Fallopian tube.

Key-words:
Fallopian tube, embryo transport, sperm migration, ciliary transport, tubal infertility.

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