Phagocytosis of spermatozoa and latex beads by the epithelial cell of the cat oviduct: combined SEM and TEM study.

The adult cat oviduct was viewed by SEM and TEM as spermatozoa of the same species and inert latex beads were injected into its lumen. The present study demonstrates that nonciliated epithelial cells in extensive areas of the oviduct as well as luminal macrophages are capable of actively taking up both the spermatozoa and the latex beads in the manner of phagocytosis. The epithelial cells are thus able to eliminate foreign bodies including degenerating spermatozoa in order to scavenge the lumen, though the cellular mechanisms involved in their phagocytosic activity remain to be elucidated.