title: A human endometrial explant system: validation and potential applications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to describe an in vitro explant system to study the regulation of prostaglandin production by human endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Segments of late-luteal-phase endometrium were obtained aseptically at the time of endometrial sampling. The endometrium was cut into 1 mm3 pieces and applied to the polycarbonate membrane of tissue-culture-well inserts for 12-well plates (Costar Transwell cell culture chamber inserts, 0.4 microns pore size). After placing the well inserts, culture medium was carefully applied. The explants were incubated at 37 degrees C in 5% carbon dioxide in air, and the culture medium was changed daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electron microscopic examination and lactate dehydrogenase determinations of the explants revealed cellular viability for < or = 5 days of culture. Endometrial explants responded to treatment with interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor by a concentration-dependent increase in the production of prostaglandin E2. Costimulation of late luteal endometrial explants with interleukin-1 beta (10 ng/ml) and progesterone (10(-6) mol/L) resulted in variable production of prostaglandin E2, suggesting that the histologic examination of the endometrium does not necessarily reflect the functional properties of the endometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that when used with human endometrial tissue this explant system maintains tissue viability and responsiveness for < or = 5 days. This approach to explant methods is simple and provides a flexible model to study the regulation of the production of bioactive substances by human endometrial tissue.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Dudley
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Hatasaka
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Branch
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hammond
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D046508:Culture Techniques; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011374:Progesterone; D015232:Dinoprostone