Ultrastructural features of the Fallopian tube epithelium of bat, Taphozous longimanus (Hardwicke)

The epitheliumof the Fallopian tube of Taphozous longimanus consists of two types of cells, ciliated and nonciliated secretory cells. The ciliated cells of tubal epithelium possess motile cilia (kinocilia) that emerge through the luminalmembrane. The cytoplasmof the ciliated cells contains large lipid complex, abundance of polyribosomes, well developed Golgi apparatus, tubular ER and large number of mitochondria.The presence of fibrous granules, basal bodies, and ciliary buds indicates the process of ciliogenesis in the Fallopian tube. The nonciliated secretory cells of ampulla show balloon-like bulges which contain secretory granules. These cells were characterized by well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, numerous polyribosomes and secretory granules of varied size, shape, and density.The secretory blebs were seen releasing into the lumen containing cell organelles. However, in some secretory blebs nucleus along with cell organelles were observed. The nonciliated secretory cells of isthmus show blunt cytoplasmic projection. Organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulumand secretory granules were seen in the cytoplasm. The presence of numerousmitochondria, a well developedGolgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulumin both the ampulla and the isthmus indicates that tubal epithelium was responsible for the synthesis of protein secretion.