Capacitation, ovum maturation, fertilization and preimplantation development in the oviduct.

The oviduct provides a temporary environment for spermatozoa, the ovum, and the embryo during the first 3 days of development. The milieu in the tubal lumen is ideal for fertilization and then events which precede it. Conditions which influence spermatozoa and the ovum are assessed, and the factors responsible for fertilization and normal development thereafter analyzed. Constituents of tubal fluid which have functional significance include bicarbonate, lactate, and pyruvate as well as ions in a suitably balanced ratio following ovulations. The functional significance of cyclic changes in protein patterns remains to be explored. Further analysis of tubal fluid content and its regulation, and additional exploration of conditions which support fertilization and early development are needed to provide a more complete understanding of the role of the oviduct in reproduction.