Tubal transport of spermatozoa does not appear to be dependent on normal cilia function.

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of a woman with Kartagener's syndrome with complete immotility of ciliae and normal transport of spermatozoa.

DESIGN

Case report.

PATIENTS: A 31-year-old woman with Kartagener's syndrome.

SETTING

Medical university-affiliated teaching hospital.

INTERVENTION(S): Ultrasonography, hysterosalpingoscintigraphy using technetium-99m-labeled macroaggregates of human serum albumin, application of oxytocin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Dynamic anteroposterior scintigraphy using a gamma camera.

RESULT(S): The transport of labeled macrospheres through the fallopian tube into the peritoneal cavity on the side of the leading follicle, compared to the contralateral oviduct where the labeled material may have accumulated within the fallopian tube, is similar to those reported in normal fertile women.

CONCLUSION(S): Transport of spermatozoa is not dependent on normal ciliary function.