No abstract

Biopsy specimens were obtained from the distal end of the Fallopian tubes of 62 women with tubal infertility and examined by light and electron microscopy. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) measurements were obtained using laser light spectroscopy. Neither demographic nor behavioural characteristics nor serological evidence of past chlamydial infection were associated with CBF measurements. In contrast, CBF were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in tissues with oedema compared to tissues without oedema (6.7 versus 12.9) and in tissues with erythema compared to tissues without erythema (9.2 versus 13.7). Furthermore, CBF measurements did vary by chlamydial serotype pattern, with lower values observed among the tissues of women with antibodies to serotype C or E (without D) as compared to the tissues of women with other serotypes (P < 0.04). However, these data must be interpreted with caution as the numbers of subjects with chlamydial antibodies to serotype C (n = 3) or E without D (n = 5) were few in number and serotyping of IgG antibodies in blood is not as accurate as it is in bacterial isolates. Confirmation of the suggested association between chlamydial serotype and risk of adverse sequelae could indicate potential new avenues for vaccine research.

The authors evaluated the effect of different iodinated contrast agents on the fallopian tube and adnexal tissue in 15 rabbits. Ethiodized oil, an oil-soluble agent, was used in five rabbits. The following water-soluble agents were used: iothalamate meglumine 30% (n = 3), iothalamate meglumine 60% (n = 3), and ioxilan (n = 4). The agents were injected through catheters placed in the fallopian tubes. Fallopian tubes and peritoneal cavities were histologically evaluated. The contralateral tube served as a control. Ioxilan and iothalamate meglumine 30% produced no pathologic response in the tube or peritoneal cavity. Iothalamate meglumine 60% was associated with mild inflammatory infiltrate, mucosal edema, giant cell reaction, and periovarian adhesions that were bilateral but more pronounced on the injected side. Use of ethiodized oil resulted in papillary fibrous adhesions on the ovarian surface, and fat granulomas were seen in the periovarian tissues. The safety of oil-based contrast agents for use in hysterosalpingography is therefore questioned. No significant differences were found among the water-soluble contrast agents.