Summary
Tissue culture offers a model system with which to study the endocrine-mediated growth, differentiation, and metabolic activities of the endometrium. We have established and continue to maintain monolayer cultures of normal human endometrial epithelial cells from each phase of the menstrual cycle. At present, eight proliferative, two secretory, and two menstrual phase cultures have been established. These have been passed at least three times. One proliferative phase culture has been growing for 18 mo, and passed 10 times. Colonies of epithelioid cells as well as single cells appear in the cultures within 2 to 8 h of initial culture and maintain this appearance throughout long-term growth. The cells are periodic acid Schiff positive for carbohydrates and positive for keratin, an immunochemical marker for epithelial tissues. Studies comparing the ultrastructure of the cultures with fresh endometrial tissue revealed morphologic features common to both, including prominent nucleoli, Golgi, mitochondria-rough endoplasmic reticulum complexes, and abundant glycogen. The cells are not tumorigenic in the nude mouse and do not form colonies on soft agarose, confirming the nonneoplastic identity of the cells.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Chen, L.; Lindner, H. R. Mitogenic action of oestradiol 17-B on human myometrial and endometrial cells in long-term tissue cultures. J. Endocrinol. 59: 87–97; 1973.
Dorman, B. H.; Varma, V. A.; Siegfried, J. M.; Melin, S. A.; Adamec, T. A.; Norton, C. R.; Kaufman, D. G. Morphology and growth potential of stromal cell cultures derived from human endometrium. In Vitro 18: 919–928; 1980.
Hiratsu, T. In vitro cultivation of human endometrium and the influence of steroid hormones on a cell line derived from the endometrium. Kobe J. Med. Sci. 14: 29–48; 1968.
Kirk, D.; King, R. J. B.; Heyes, J.; Peachey, L.; Hirsch, P. J.; Taylor, R. W. Normal human endometrium in cell culture. I. Separation and characterization of epithelial and stromal components in vitro. In Vitro 14: 651–662; 1978.
Liszczak, T. M.; Richardson, G. S.; MacLaughlin, D. T.; Kornblith, P. E. Ultrastructure of human endometrial epithelium in monolayer culture with and without steroid hormones. In Vitro 13: 344–356; 1977.
Liu, L.; Tseng, L. Estradiol metabolism in isolated human endometrial epithelial glands and stromal cells. Endocrinology 104: 1674–1681; 1979.
Satyaswaroop, P. G.; Bressler, R. S.; de la Pena, M. M.; Gurpide, E. Isolation and culture of human endometrial glands. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 4: 639–641; 1979.
Trent, J. M.; Davis, J. R.; Payne, C. M. The establishment and morphologic characterization of finite cell lines from normal human endometrium. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 136: 352–362; 1980.
Varma, V. A.; Melin, S. A.; Adamec, T. A.; Dorman, B. H.; Siegfried, J. M.; Walton, L. A.; Carney, C. N.; Norton, C. R.; Kaufman, D. G. Monolayer culture of human endometrium: Methods of culture and identification of cell types. In Vitro 18: 911–918; 1982.
Paul, J. Cell and tissue culture. London: Churchill Livingstone Co.; 1973.
Schlegel, R.; Banks-Schlegel, S.; McLeod, J. A.; Pinkus, G. S. Immunoperoxidase localization of keratin in human neoplasms. Am. J. Pathol. 101: 41–48; 1980.
Schlegel, R.; Banks-Schlegel, S.; Pinkus, G. S. Immunohistochemical localization of keratin in normal human tissues. Lab Invest. 42: 91–96; 1980.
Douglas, W. H. J.; doughterty, E. P.; Phillips, G. W. A method for in situ embedding of cultured cells grown in plastic tissue culture vessels for transmission electron microscopy. TCA Manual 3: 581–582; 1977.
Carney, D. N.; Gazdar, A. F.; Minna, J. D. Positive correlation between histologic tumor involvement and generation of tumor cell colonies in agrose in specimens taken directly from patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Cancer Res. 40: 1820–1823; 1980.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or representing those of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, The Department of the Navy, or the Department of Defense. This project was supported by the following grants: C08509 from the Uniformed Services University and Clinical Investigation Study Protocol 82-06-1804, Naval Hospital, Bethesda.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Centola, G.M., Cisar, M. & Knab, D.R. Establishment and morphologic characterization of normal human endometrium in vitro. In Vitro 20, 451–462 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02619618
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02619618