Electron Microscopy of the Camel Oviductal Epithelium During Early Pregnancy
The function of the oviduct is essential to the reproductive process of mammals since it allows the meeting of gametes and the beginning of embryonic development. A detailed account on the fine structural changes of the porcine oviductal epithelium during pregnancy has been published. Scanning electron microscopic features of the oviduct from estrus camels have been recently described. To the best of our knowledge, no transmission electron microscopic studies of the camel oviductal epithelium during pregnancy have been reported. The purpose of this study was to identify some of the fine structural changes occurring in the tubal epithelium during early pregnancy and to establish a basis for subsequent physiological and pathological studies.Specimens from the infundibulum region of the oviduct were obtained from 10 pregnant camels. In the present study, it was not possible to determine the exact stage of pregnancy.