A factor inhibiting ovum capture by the oviductal fimbriae present in endometriosis peritoneal fluid

The cumulus-fimbria interaction was investigated in vitro with endometriosis peritoneal fluid (PF). On the oviductal fimbria of the golden hamster, incubated with endometriosis and nonendometriosis PF and culture medium 199 contained 4% bovine serum albumin (control), was placed the mouse oocyte-cumulus complex at 5-minute intervals for 60 to 70 minutes. Incubation periods until the loss of fimbrial capability of ovum capture (ovum capturability disappearance time [OCDT] ) were 23.3 +/- 2.7 (standard error of the mean), 51.7 +/- 2.9, and 61.3 +/- 0.9 minutes with endometriosis, nonendometriosis PF, and control, respectively. OCDT was significantly decreased with cell-free and ultrafiltrated endometriosis PF containing a molecular size greater than 100,000 (26.0 +/- 2.8 and 26.1 +/- 2.5 minutes, respectively). A factor inhibiting fimbrial capability of ovum capture is present in endometriosis PF.