Human tubal fluid: production, nutrient composition and response to adrenergic agents

Vascularly perfused Fallopian tubes have been used to study the formation and composition of human tubal fluid and the response to adrenergic agents. An artery serving the tube was cannulated and perfused with Medium 199 supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and antibiotics. A second cannula was attached to the fimbriated end for native tubal fluid collection. The preparation was viable for up to 2 h. Tubal fluid was only obtained in tubes removed in the proliferative and early secretory phases of the ovarian cycle. Isoproterenol (1 mM) added to the perfusate stimulated fluid production, whereas dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) reduced fluid formation by 66%. Glucose, pyruvate and lactate concentrations in tubal fluid, measured by microfluorescence assays, were 1.11, 0.14 and 5.4 mM respectively. The concentrations of 17 amino acids in tubal fluid were measured by high performance liquid chromatography following fluorescence derivatization. Arginine (0.19 mM) > alanine (0.11 mM) > glutamate (0.09 mM) were present in highest concentration in all phases of the cycle. All 17 amino acid concentrations in tubal fluid were below those in the vascular perfusate. These data provides the basis for a culture medium whose composition mimics the physiological environment to which early human embryos are exposed.