The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructure of secretory cells in the various regions of
the goat oviduct during the follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle. During the follicular phase in
the fimbriae, the secretory cells contained small secretory granules with electron-dense matrices. In the luteal
phase, the secretory granules disappeared and cytoplasmic protrusions, extending beyond the luminal border
of the ciliated cells and often containing the nucleus, were predominant. During the follicular phase in
ampullary secretory cells, numerous secretory granules with moderately electron-dense matrices were present
in the supranuclear cytoplasm and exocytosis of secretory granules was observed. The number of secretory
granules was dramatically reduced in the ampullary secretory cells at the luteal phase. Conspicuous
cytoplasmic protrusions of secretory cells were observed similar to those of the fimbrial epithelium. Isthmic
cells were almost free of secretory granules and lysosome-like bodies were found both at the follicular and
luteal phases. In conclusion, our ultrastructural observations of goat oviduct revealed marked cyclic changes
in the ultrastructural features of secretory cells and the ultrastructural features and the numbers of secretory
granules were distinctive for each particular segment.