Ultrastructural features of secretory cells in the bovine oviduct epithelium

The non-ciliated (NC) cells of the bovine oviduct epithelium, have been shown to release embryotrophic substances to the oviduct lumen. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructure, focusing on aspects of the secretory machinery, of NC cells in different segments of the oviduct during and after transoviduct migration of zygotes and embryos. Dairy heifers (n=8) were superovulated with an ECG/cloprostenol regimen, and the time of ovulation was estimated by ultrasound scanning. Samples from the infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus and uterotubal-junction of the oviduct were surgically collected from animals at 19–96 h and 7 1/2; –8 1/2 days after ovulation and processed for transmission electron microscopy, following standard procedures. The NC cells contained characteristic membrane-bound secretory granules composed of a lamellar cortex encaging an amorphous medulla. The two components could still be recognized during extrusion of the granule content into the oviduct lumen by exocytosis. During granulogenesis, small maturing granules without the lamellar structure were observed, but distinct condensing vacuoles were absent. An abundance of granules was found in the early versus the late group. In both groups the uterotubual junction was almost free of granules. This segment, on the contrary, was characterized by the presence of primary and secondary lysosome-like bodies. In the early group the intracellular location of the granules varied between oviduct segments. In the infundibulum they were placed in the supranuclear cytoplasm, in the isthmus they were found in the most apical part of the cells, while in the ampulla an intermediate granule position was noticed. In both groups the uterotubal junction was almost free of granules. This segment, on the contrary, was characterized by the presence of primary and secondary lysosome-like bodies. Cytoplasmic protrusions, often containing nuclei, were more frequent in the late than in the early group. This phenomenon may represent epithelial renewal. In conclusion, the NC cell of the bovine oviduct epithelium possesses an extensive capacity for protein synthesis and secretion. The numbers and location of secretory granules show cyclic and segmental variations. Most granules are present in the infundibulum and ampulla during the period of transoviduct migration of zygote and embryo.