Electrophysiology of the rabbit oviduct following tubal microsurgery

The ability of tuboplastic microsurgery to restore electrical continuity across an anastomosis site was investigated in the rabbit. Three to six weeks following transection and end-to-end anastomosis of the tubal ampulla or isthmus, the pattern of electrical activity adjacent to and across the anastomosis site was examined. Recordings were made in vitro using arrays of closely spaced suction electrodes 68 to 72 hours after an ovulating dose of human chorionic gonadotropin. The pattern of electrical activity across anastomosis sites was not significantly different from corresponding portions of unoperated control oviducts. Microsurgical anastomosis restored electrical continuity between anastomosed segments in both the ampulla and isthmus.