Part Early Development and the Fetal-Maternal Relationship 25 Proovalatory folite ‘ovulatory folicte Fig. 2.1. Changes in the cums ‘oocyte complex (COC) of rabbis during folicuar maturation and ovulation. I the preovlarary flee, the cumulis cells (arrow) are tightly packed around the oooyte, Because the folicle is stimulated by lutenizing hormone AU) before ovation, the cumulis ‘ells produce exvacelilar matic and become much ss vihly packed by the time of ovlation. The ovuated oocyte is sill surounded by cumulus cel (from Espey UL, chads 1S: Outon. ei 0. ea Pysilogy of repreduin. el 53 Amsterdam, 206, Es) Morula Blastooyst (4 days) Implantation @ days) Uterine ‘Ovulation Fig. 2.2. Foliar develooment inthe ovary, ovulation, fertiization, and transport of the early embryo down the uterine tube and into the ters. travel free in the pelvic cavity for a considerable distance before entering the ostium of the uterine tube on the other side, When inside the uterine tube, the egg is transported toward the uterus, mainly as the result of contractions of the smooth ‘musculature of the tubal wall, Although the cilia lining the tubal mucosa may also playa role in egg transport, their action is not obligatory because women with immotile cilia syn- drome ate often fertile While in the uterine tube, the egg is bathed in tubal fluid, which isa combination of secretion by the tubal epithelial cells and transudate from capillaries just below the epithelium. In some mammals, exposure to oviductal secretions is important to the survival of the ovum and for modifying the composi- tion ofthe zona pellucida, but the role of tubal fluid in humans is less clear ‘Tubal transport of the egg usually takes 3 to 4 days, whether ‘or not fertilization occurs (Fig. 22). Egg transport typically ‘occurs in two phases: sow transport in the ampulla (approxi- mately 72 hours) and a more rapid phase (8 hours) during which the egg or embryo passes through the isthmus and into the uterus (see p. 51), By a poorly understood mechanism, possibly local edema or reduced muscular activity the egg is temporarily prevented from entering the isthmie portion of