Fimbrial microbiopsy

Microbiopsies from the fimbrial surface were obtained from 70 women to determine the percentage of ciliated cells. The following observations were made: 1. There is a close correlation between the percentages of ciliated cells in each of the two oviducts; 2. The percentages of ciliated cells in normal, fertile women vary between 54 and 70 with no apparent variation between the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle; 3. The percentage of ciliated cells is reduced in hypoestrogenic amenorrhea, during pregnancy and during steroid contraception; 4. Ovarian endometriosis without tubal involvement is usually not associated with fimbrial reciliation, but sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease can be associated with deciliation of the fimbrial surface; 5. Two cases are reported in which the fimbrial surface showed extreme deciliation in association with sqamous metaplasia of the epithelium, possibly indicating defective ovum transport over the fimbrial surface.