Enhanced and co-ordinated movement of the hamster oviduct during the periovulatory period.

The movement of the hamster oviduct in vivo was examined after injection of a small quantity of India ink into the lowermost region of the isthmus. An active and co-ordinated movement of both the isthmus and ampulla that caused a rapid transport of the ink to the upper ampulla (and eventually to the ovarian bursa) was observed shortly before, during and within a few hours after ovulation. During the rest of the oestrous cycle, no ink was transported to the upper ampulla despite active contractile movement by the isthmus. These observations suggest that the oviduct as a whole exhibits an efficient contractile movement suited for sperm transport only during the periovulatory period.