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BioScientifica, Reproduction, 6(144), p. 649-660, 2012

DOI: 10.1530/rep-12-0279

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Roles of the oviduct in mammalian fertilization

Journal article published in 2012 by Pilar Coy, Fa A. García-Vázquez, Pe E. Visconti, Manuel Avilés ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The oviduct or Fallopian tube is the anatomical region where every new life begins in mammalian species. After a long journey, the spermatozoa meet the oocyte in the specific site of the oviduct named ampulla, and fertilization takes place. The successful fertilization depends on several biological processes which occur in the oviduct some hours before this rendezvous and affect both gametes. Estrogen and progesterone, released from the ovary, orchestrate a series of changes by genomic- and non-genomic pathways in the oviductal epithelium affecting gene expression, proteome and secretion of its cells into the fluid bathing the oviductal lumen. In addition, new regulatory molecules are being discovered playing important roles in oviductal physiology and fertilization. The present review tries to describe these processes, building a comprehensive map of the physiology of the oviduct, to better understand the importance of this organ in reproduction. With this purpose, gamete transport, sperm and oocyte changes in the oviductal environment and other interactions between gametes and oviduct are discussed in light of recent publications in the field.