Scanning electron microscopy of goat oviductal epithelial cells at the follicular and luteal phases of the oestrus cycle.

The luminal surfaces of epithelial cells in various regions of the oviducts of the goats at the follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Marked cyclic changes were observed on the surface of the epithelium in the fimbriae, ampulla and ampullar-isthmic junction, but few changes were found in the isthmus or uterotubal junction. The epithelium of the fimbriae, ampulla, and ampullar-isthmic junction of oviducts in the follicular phase was extensively ciliated and most of the cilia extended above the apical processes of the nonciliated cells. In the luteal phase, many ciliated cells were hidden by the bulbous processes of the nonciliated cells. In the isthmus and at the uterotubal junction, the apical surfaces of the nonciliated cells were flat or gently rounded at both phases of the oestrous cycle. The results demonstrate that regional variations are associated with the cyclic changes in the epithelial cells of the goat oviduct.