Proportional vascularization along the fallopian tubes and ovarian fimbria: assessment by confocal microtomography

Abstract Objective: To evaluate and reconstruct three-dimensional images of vascularization along the fallopian tube (FT), as well as to determine its relationship with the ovary and ovarian fimbria, and to quantify the blood vessels along the FT according to its anatomical segments, using confocal microtomography (micro-CT). Materials and Methods: Nine specimens (six FTs and three FTs with ovaries) were fixed in a solution of 10% formalin for > 24 h at room temperature. Iodine staining was performed by soaking the specimens in 10% Lugol’s solution for 24 h. All specimens were evaluated using micro-CT. A morphometric analysis was performed on the reconstructed images to quantify the vascular distribution along the FT. Results: In the FTs evaluated, the density of blood vessels was significantly greater in the fimbrial segments than in the isthmic segments (p