Samples of human endometrium were maintained in organ culture for 6 days on growth medium. On Day 6, ultrastructural studies were performed on endometrial explants, demonstrating that human endometrium grown in organ culture preserved its normal structure. The effect of oestrone sulphate was studied on the endometrium explants. The endometrium was cultured on harvest medium for 4 days to ensure the complete removal of endogenous steroids, the tissues were then incubated with 10(-7) M oestrone sulphate for 24 h. The oestrone sulphatase known to interfere with oestrone sulphate metabolism was present in endometrial organ culture. By incubation with estrone sulphate for 24 h it was demonstrated that oestrone sulphate is hydrolysed to active oestrogens.
The comparative effect of oestradiol-17 beta, oestrone and oestrone-3-sulphate was examined on guinea-pig endometrium in primary culture. A parallel study was conducted in vivo to appreciate hormonal effects on the uterine luminal surface of ovariectomized guinea-pigs. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that uterine epithelial cells were responsive to physiological concentrations of E2, E1 and E1S. Their plasma membrane was dramatically modified by 2.10(-9) M E2 and 10(-7) M E1S, but there are clear qualitative differences between the effect of E2 and of E1S. These effects were abolished by progesterone or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Guinea-pig uterine epithelial cells in primary culture and in vivo are responsive to E2 and to E1S but their response to E1S appears to be more specific and can be distinguished by the cell surface morphology.
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