Effect of the carbon dioxide laser on the oviducts of rabbits.

Oviducts of 35 mature, white New Zealand rabbits were injured by a laser beam, using various powers from 25 to 40 W, and by a series of pulses of 1/10, 1/20 or 1/100 s duration. The contralateral oviducts served as controls and were injured at similar areas by a scalpel. The injured areas of both tubes were histologically examined at different periods from the time of injury. Enzyme histochemical studies were also carried out. The site of the laser injury was bloodless. There was a delay in the healing process of the laser side. Vessels were sealed at the area where the spot of the laser hits the vessels, but beyond that point a regular thermal damage was noted with thrombus formation such as seen in regular diathermia or scalpel injuries. Enzymatic activity of the epithelium in the vicinity of the laser-injured areas was intact. The thermal damage due to laser injury found in this study is still significant and would necessitate the use of the laser by microtechniques so as to limit the damage of oviduct tissues.