Polycationic macromolecules inhibit cilia-mediated ovum transport in the rabbit oviduct.

In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, polycationic macromolecules,such as poly(L-lysine), inhibited the transport of either surrogate or freshly ovulated cumulus masses across the oviduct epithelial surface without affecting the ciliary beat. Whereas transport across the fimbria in vivo was completely inhibited, transport down the ampulla was 3 to 7 times slower than normal. The effects of these polycations suggest that cilia-mediated ovum transport may involve the formation of transient adhesive bonds between the tip of the cilium and elements of the cumulus mass during each beat cycle of the cilium.