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Energy metabolism of the human Fallopian tube

Summary. The consumption of oxygen (Q_O2), the production of lactate and the profile of four key metabolic enzymes were measured in small samples of human oviductal mucosa (endosalpinx) removed at surgery. The Q_O2 in the absence of substrate was 3·4 µ1 O₂ (mg dry wt)^–1 h^–1, a value typical of quiescent tissue. The Q_O2 was stimulated by glucose, but diminished by glutamine and acetoacetate. Tissue lactate production was low and not increased by glucose. Hexokinase had the highest activity of the enzymes measured, followed by 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase; 6-phosphofructokinase and glycogen phosphorylase had low activities. The data are consistent with the proposition that glucose is a major metabolic fuel for human endosalpinx.

Keywords: Fallopian tube; oxygen uptake; metabolism; glucose; lactate; human