The concentration of estrogen receptors in rabbit uterine myocytes decreases in culture.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the concentration of estrogen receptors in cultured myocytes is preserved after dispersion.


METHODS
Primary myocytes were prepared from rabbit myometrium by collagenase dispersion after removing the endometrium and were isolated with Percoll density gradients. The cells were assayed for estrogen receptor concentration at intervals after dispersion by means of a whole-cell binding assay. Unpaired t test was used for comparisons.


RESULTS
The concentration of estrogen receptors on the first day after dispersion was 12,058 +/- 1096 sites per cell (mean +/- SEM) and decreased to 4389 +/- 1223 site per cell within 9 to 14 days after dispersion (63% decline, p < 0.001). A similar decrease was observed when 2 nmol/L estradiol was present in the medium.


CONCLUSIONS
The concentration of estrogen receptors in isolated rabbit uterine myocytes decreases after dispersion. This may partly explain the difficulty of demonstrating in vitro estrogen effects on myocytes, which are well established in vivo.
Sadovsky
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0550.
Riemer
R K
RK
Roberts
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011817:Rabbits; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol