Rate of transport of radioactive ovum models through the oviducts of individual rabbits.

The transport of radioactive ovum models of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,000 mu diameter through the oviducts was measured. Four surrogates of a given size were transferred into each oviduct 6 hours after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The surrogates were located in the oviducts 24, 48, 60, 66, and 72 hours after HCG injection with a collimated end-window Geiger-Mueller tube. Thus the time-course of the transport of each surrogate, from ampulla to uterus in the same animal, was plotted. The time-course of surrogate transport was directly related to surrogate size. Our data suggest that normal tubal patency and ovum transport function can be tested by introducing radioactive ovum surrogates of appropriate size into the oviducts and monitoring their time of arrival at the uterus.