Objectives: We investigated the hypothesis that the oviduct exhibits increased motile activity during cervical buffeting.
Methods: The response of oviductal and uterine pressures to cervix uteri (CU) stimulation was recorded in 16 women (mean age 32.4+/-3.6 years) with normal menstrual history. Pressure measurements, performed by means of saline-perfused catheters introduced into each of the uterus and oviduct, were recorded upon both electrical and mechanical CU stimulation before and after CU anesthetization.
Results: CU stimulation produced a significant uterine pressure decrease with no significant difference between electrical and mechanical stimulation. Latency recorded mean of 17.6+/-1.2 ms for electrical stimulation and 17.2+/-1.2 for mechanical stimulation. CU stimulation caused also significant pressure rise in ampullary and isthmic parts of oviduct and a decrease of intramural oviduct with no significant difference between electrical and mechanical stimulation. Mean latency of electrical and mechanical response was 18.7+/-1.1 ms and 19.1+/-1.1 ms, respectively. Uterine and tubal pressure showed insignificant response to stimulation of the anesthetized CU.
Conclusions: Cervical stimulation reduced uterine and intramural oviduct pressure and elevated pressure of ampullary and isthmic parts. These utero-tubal responses seem to be mediated through a reflex which we call "cervico-utero-tubal reflex" and to assist in sperm-ovum transport and fertilization.