[Ciliated epithelium of the Fallopian tube in women. An ultrastructural study (author's transl)]

Abstract

The steps in the ultrastructural changes that occur in new cilia formation in tubal epithelium have been well demonstrated in animals. In women, it is difficult to show cilia growing again and some authors deny that new growth occurs. Transmission electron microscopy studies on 32 specimens have shown that human new growth of cilia does occur. It arises in the midst of a cellular population which has as its characteristic a cytoplasm that is more clear than those of the neighbouring cells. Different ultrastructural aspects can be described. They resemble those that have been demonstrated in different animal species. On the other hand no mitoses have been shown. We will study the correlations between plasma hormone levels, the numbers of tissue receptors and the appearance of these clear cells in another article.