Vascularly perfused Fallopian tubes have been used to study the formation and composition of human tubal fluid and the response to adrenergic agents. An artery serving the tube was cannulated and perfused with Medium 199 supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and antibiotics. A second cannula was attached to the fimbriated end for native tubal fluid collection. The preparation was viable for up to 2 h. Tubal fluid was only obtained in tubes removed in the proliferative and early secretory phases of the ovarian cycle. Isoproterenol (1 mM) added to the perfusate stimulated fluid production, whereas dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) reduced fluid formation by 66%. Glucose, pyruvate and lactate concentrations in tubal fluid, measured by microfluorescence assays, were 1.11, 0.14 and 5.4 mM respectively. The concentrations of 17 amino acids in tubal fluid were measured by high performance liquid chromatography following fluorescence derivatization. Arginine (0.19 mM) > alanine (0.11 mM) > glutamate (0.09 mM) were present in highest concentration in all phases of the cycle. All 17 amino acid concentrations in tubal fluid were below those in the vascular perfusate. These data provides the basis for a culture medium whose composition mimics the physiological environment to which early human embryos are exposed.

The physiological basis for the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of acute pelvic pain in women was examined in terms of: (i) the electrophysiological responses of epithelial cells in the human Fallopian tube; and (ii) the longitudinal and circular contractions of the myosalpinx. Epithelial cells were grown as a polarized layer in primary culture, and transepithelial potential difference (p.d.) and short-circuit current (I(scc)) were recorded using a modified Ussing chamber. The inflammatory mediators histamine (0.1-100.0 micromol l(-1)) and platelet activating factor (PAF) (1.9-1900.0 nmol l(-1)) increased p.d. and I(scc) in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-incubation with the NSAID diclofenac sodium (100 micromol l(-1)) inhibited the histamine- and PAF-induced stimulation of p.d. and I(scc). Aspirin (100 micromol l(-1)), ibuprofen (100 micromol l(-1)), indomethacin (100 micromol l(-1)) or naproxen (100 micromol l(-1)) were only partially effective. Histamine (0.1-1000.0 micromol l(-1)) increased the frequency of contractions of longitudinal and circular smooth muscle in segments of Fallopian tube in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-incubation with diclofenac significantly reduced the histamine-induced stimulation of tubal smooth muscle contraction at the higher doses of histamine. The other NSAIDs had no effect. These data provide evidence that diclofenac downregulates acute inflammation in the human Fallopian tube and may be of use as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease.

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