title: X-ray microanalysis of uterine epithelial cells in culture.
abstract: The ionic composition of the uterine fluid, secreted by the endometrium, is of importance for fertilization and embryonic development. Little, however, is known about the ion transport mechanisms in the uterine epithelial cells. Because it is difficult to study ion transport in this tissue in situ, a method was developed to culture mouse uterine epithelial cells for X-ray microanalysis in the electron microscope, in order to allow the study of ion transport. Our data suggest the presence of a number of ion transport mechanisms in the cultured uterine epithelial cells. The cells appear to possess a ouabain-sensitive Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, an amiloride-sensitive Na(+)-H+ antiporter, cAMP- and Ca(2+)-activated chloride channels, and volume-activated chloride efflux and influx mechanisms. In addition, chloride efflux can be stimulated by cholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonists. Only a few of these mechanisms had been studied previously in the uterine epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Roomans
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D017136:Ion Transport; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D004232:Diuretics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007476:Ionophores; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D010656:Phenylephrine; D015759:Ionomycin; D010042:Ouabain; D000584:Amiloride; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D000109:Acetylcholine