These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: The influence of fallopian tube length on fertility in the rabbit.
    Author: McComb P, Gomel V.
    Journal: Fertil Steril; 1979 Jun; 31(6):673-6. PubMed ID: 446793.
    Abstract:
    The correlation between the length of the oviduct and degree of fertility was studied in 16 New Zealand White rabbits subjected to microsurgical resection of differing lengths of fallopian tube involving the isthmus in each case. A highly significant (P less than 0.005) linear correlation was found, suggesting that more than 47% of an oviduct must remain distally before fertility can be anticipated. Absence of the isthmic segment of the fallopian tube was found to be associated with supracervical fetal implantations in the uterus. The importance of the assessment of tubal length as a prelude to reconstructive surgery, especially for reversal of sterilization, is emphasized. Evidence suggests that fertility subsequent to tubal reconstruction greatly depends on the length and functional quality of the oviduct. To test the validity of this statement, this study was conducted. 16 sexually mature New Zealand white rabbits were used for the study. Rabbits were used as they have a duplex genital tract to the level of 2 cervices; hence, each animal served as both case and control. The rabbits were preoperatively subjected to alternating 12-hour periods of light and dark and were given standard rabbit diet with liberal water. Aseptic microsurgical techniques were used during the operation. Length of the oviduct was measured with sterile paper tape. Segmented resection and anastomosis were performed on the left oviduct of each rabbit, while the right oviduct was anastomosed after simple transection and served as a control. The ratio of experimental to control pregnancies and the fraction of oviduct remaining distally correlated significantly (P 0.005), indicating that 47% or more of the fallopian tube must remain distally before fertility can be expected to return. In rabbits with a relatively small resected segment of tube (between 4% and 18% of the total tubal length), the uterus revealed normally spaced fetuses; in contrast, rabbits with large resected segment (between 40% and 46% of total length of oviduct) had pregnancies in the proximal supracervical region of the uterus. The findings suggest that oviductal length is a critical factor in achieving subsequent fertility following reversal of sterilization.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]