Fallopian Tube Epithelial Cell Culture
There is limited knowledge about the biological events which occur in the fallopian tube during the ovarian cycle and the early events of reproduction. The physiological mechanisms which control the timing of gamete interaction and fertilisation are not yet clearly understood. As the fallopian tube provides the environment in which early embryo development takes place these events may have a significant effect on all the subsequent events of the pregnancy. Physiological study of the fallopian tube has been hampered by its inaccessibility. The fluid in the tubal lumen has been studied using tubal cannulation, demonstrating that while the majority of the constituents of tubal fluid appear to originate from serum, there are proteins which may be specific to it (Lippes et al. 1981; Lippes and Wagh 1989; Wagh and Lippes 1989). The role of these proteins is unknown.
A 19-year-old woman who presented with right-sided hemothorax was diagnosed to have gestational trophoblastic disease with pleural metastasis. A CT scan of the chest revealed a pleural mass and serum Beta-subunit of HCG was high. After treatment the hormonal level became normal and the patient remains asymptomatic.