title: Changes in proteins synthesized by rabbit endometrial epithelial cells following primary culture.
abstract: Morphological and biochemical changes occurring in rabbit endometrial epithelial cells when placed in culture were investigated. Cells were examined by scanning- and transmission electron microscopy and freeze-fracture. Morphologically, cultured cells are shorter and broader than the columnar epithelial cells in vivo, but retain their polarity as indicated by the presence of apical microvilli and a well-developed junctional belt. To study changes in biochemical function, proteins synthesized by cells in primary culture were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins were labeled during a 24-h incubation with 35S-methionine and gels examined by fluorography. The pattern of proteins changed after cells had been in culture for 48 h. On day 3 new proteins were synthesized and several protein species labeled during days 1 or 2 of culture, including uteroglobin, no longer appeared. On days 3-8 of culture the protein patterns were similar. Addition of progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, or combinations of these hormones to the culture medium for 24-144 h failed to elicit consistent changes in the pattern of labeled proteins established after 3 days of culture. Minor differences in protein patterns among unrelated cultures appear to have been derived from the original cells of the culture. These results indicate that after 48 h in primary culture, cells grown in vitro resemble endometrial epithelial cells morphologically, but no longer reflect functionally the character of epithelial cells in the uterus.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, RWTH University of Aachen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mulholland
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Winterhager
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Beier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010060:Ovulation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011555:Pseudopregnancy; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins