PARENT SESSION

(T599) CHARACTERIZATION OF RAT ENDOMETRIAL STROMAL CELLS CULTURED IN VITRO.

Gamo, Toru ¹, Nishimura, Kyouhei ¹, Soh, Tomoki ¹, Yamauchi , Nobuhiko ¹, Hattori, Masa-aki ¹, ¹ Graduate School Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

ABSTRACT- The endometrium undergoes dynamic change in response to implantation and pregnancy. Endometrial stromal cells, as well as epithelial cells, are thought to play an important role in this process. To investigate the functions of stroma using cell culture systems, it is essential to understand the properties of the stromal cells in vitro. The aim of this study is to isolate and to characterize the endometrial stromal cells derived from sexually matured rat uterus. Cells were isolated from rat endometrium during different stages of estrous cycle and implantation period. Characteristics of the rat endometrial stromal cells (RES) were examined by immunocytochemistry. Proliferation activities of the cells were measured by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling kit. Additionally, productions of prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2) in RES were analyzed by enzymeimmunoassay (EIA). Morphologically, the cells were a monolayer of flat, spindle- and fibroblast like cells. Immunofluorescent observations showed that the cells were positively stained with anti-vimentin and -fibronectin antibody, and negative to anti-cytokeratin, -desmin and -VWF antibody. Cells derived from implantation period showed high proliferation activity than those obtained at estrous cycle periods. The addition of estradiol and progesterone to the culture medium had no effect on the proliferation activity of RES. While EGF, FGF and TNF- significantly increased the proliferation activity (P<0.05). RES produced both PGE2 and PGF2, and TNF- significantly stimulated the production of PGE2 (P<0.05). In the present study, endometrial stromal cells with high proliferation activity were isolated from the sexually matured rat uterus. These results provide basic information for further studies on functions of endometrial stroma using culture system in vitro.

KEY WORDS: rat, endometrial stromal cells, proliferation activity, prostaglangins