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Updated: Oct 9, 2025

An Efficient Method for Extracting Human Fallopian Tube Epithelia for Single-cell Analyses
Published on: March 28, 2025
Isolation of Fallopian Tube Epithelium for Assessment of Cilia Beating Frequency (CBF)
Angela Russo1, Joanna E Burdette2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. russoa@uic.edu.
Abstract:
The fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) plays a critical role in reproduction and the genesis of ovarian cancer. The FTE columnar cells present with hair-like structures named "cilia" that are required for normal FTE function. Impairment of ciliary motion can lead to infertility, and it is influenced by hormonal signaling and endocrine disrupting compounds. Studying how cilia beating changes in response to these compounds is critical for understanding FTE physiology and pathology. In this protocol, we describe methods for isolating human fallopian tube epithelium, oviduct (murine equivalent of fallopian tube) epithelium, and ovaries. In addition, we describe methods for imaging and measuring cilia beating frequency using high-resolution time-lapse imaging.

