[A morphological study of glandular formation and epithelialization from normal human endometrial epithelial cells in vitro].
We employed basement membrane extracts (BME) prepared from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor for in vitro culture of normal human endometrial cells (E-cells) and observed a process of glandular formation followed by epithelialization. E-cells isolated enzymatically were cultured in BME-coated culture dishes and morphological observations were carried out. The results were as follows: 1) E-cells cultured on BME had a globular shape, grew in a helix-like pattern, and formed a tubular glandular structure, rising perpendicularly above the BME surface. 2) Following the glandular formation, 2 weeks after the beginning of the culture, E-cells on the top of the glandular structure spread out in all directions and formed an epithelial-like monolayer cell sheet on the surface of the BME mimicking superficial luminal epithelialization. 3) Glandular E-cells were columnar in shape, had numerous surface microvilli, and faced a lumen which was sealed by a tight junction complex of cells. Superficial E-cells were cuboidal in shape, with mild polarized organelles, nuclei, and abundant microvilli and the surface was entirely covered with BME. These results indicated that this culture system using a BME could be useful in studying the physiology of the human endometrium in vitro and the mechanism of reproduction.
Negami
A I
AI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukui Medical School.
D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D014020:Tissue Extracts
D003470:Culture Media; D014020:Tissue Extracts