Use of primary cultures of rabbit oviduct epithelial cells to study the ionic basis of tubal fluid formation

Abstract

A pure population of rabbit oviduct epithelial cells was isolated and grown as a polarized monolayer on collagen-impregnated filters in primary culture. The cells were shown to be epithelial by immunocytochemical staining. The cells were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber which enabled ion transport across the cells to be studied. There was a net flux of Clin a basal to apical direction which was reversed by 1 mmol dibutyryl cyclic AMP l-1 (cAMP). A small but consistent transepithelial electrical potential difference (p.d.) of 0.86 mV was recorded with the apical side of the cells negative with respect to the basal. Adrenaline added to the basal side of the cells induced large transient increases in p.d. across the monolayer, involving both alpha and beta receptors. Adrenaline also induced a small increase in basal to apical Cltransport across the cells. It is proposed that adrenergic agonists and cAMP modulate rabbit oviduct fluid formation in part via an effect on transepithelial chloride transport.

Effect of Inflammatory Mediators on the Electrophysiology of the Human Oviduct1

“…Water follows the ion movements towards the osmotic equilibrium and thus accumulates in the lumen [29]. Movements of chloride ions from basal to apical have been observed in the epithelium of the oviduct consistent with it being a chloride secretory epithelium [2,4,26,30]. In vascularly perfused rabbit oviduct, inhibition of chloride ion transport decreased vascular to lumen Cl Ϫ flux and the rate of fluid secretion [3].…”

“…Epithelial cells were isolated according to the method of Dickens et al [4], which is a modification of methods devised by Glasser et al [23] and Kimber et al [24]. The oviducts were washed in Hanks' balanced salt solution without calcium and magnesium (Ca-Mg-free HBSS; Gibco, Life Technologies, Ltd., Paisley, UK) and connective tissue removed.…”

“…These chloride fluxes were sensitive to blockade of Cl Ϫ /HCO 3 Ϫ exchange and Na ϩ /K ϩ / 2Cl Ϫ cotransport [2], which is consistent with the oviduct being a Cl Ϫ secretory epithelium as is found in other tissues such as the kidney proximal tubule and the airways. Dickens et al [4] then grew rabbit oviduct epithelial cells as a polarized layer in primary culture. The cultured cells showed structural polarization with the basal side in contact with the filter and the apical surface covered in microvilli and cilia.…”

Expression of adrenergic receptors in mouse preimplantation embryos and ovulated oocytes

“…Moreover, it was speculated that catecholamines could be produced also by the early embryo itself (Burden & Lawrence 1973, Sadykova et al 1990). Epinephrine and norepinephrine present in oviductal fluid could influence the oviduct epithelium via adrenergic receptors which have been shown in oviduct epithelial cells of several species (Tolszczuk & Pelletier 1988, Dickens et al 1993, Einspanier et al 1999. Increased fluid formation, effects on Cl K ion transport and electrical potential differences have been shown after treatment of rabbit oviductal cells with agonists of adrenergic receptors (Dickens et al 1993, Dickens & Leese 1994.…”

“…Epinephrine and norepinephrine present in oviductal fluid could influence the oviduct epithelium via adrenergic receptors which have been shown in oviduct epithelial cells of several species (Tolszczuk & Pelletier 1988, Dickens et al 1993, Einspanier et al 1999. Increased fluid formation, effects on Cl K ion transport and electrical potential differences have been shown after treatment of rabbit oviductal cells with agonists of adrenergic receptors (Dickens et al 1993, Dickens & Leese 1994. Besides, the effects on the oviduct epithelium, adrenoceptor agonists can also influence the functioning of spermatozoa in the oviduct, including capacitation and acrosome reaction (Way & Killian 2002, Adeoya-Osiguwa et al 2006.…”