title: Role of label-retaining cells in estrogen-induced endometrial regeneration.
abstract: Candidate stem/progenitor cells have been identified in mouse endometrium as label-retaining cells (LRCs). The role of endometrial stem/progenitor cells in initiating estrogen-stimulated endometrial growth in prepubertal and cycling mice was investigated following a single 17β-estradiol (E2) injection in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled and -chased (LRC), ovariectomised mice. Proliferating (BrdU(+)/Ki-67(+)) and mitotic (BrdU(+)/PH3(+)) epithelial LRCs were first detected in prepubertal mice 8 hours following E2 treatment, initiating the proliferative response. In contrast, all epithelial LRCs and 16% of epithelial cells in cycling mice proliferated within 2 hours. In cycling mice, 12% of stromal LRCs initiated a proliferative response 8 hours after E2. Proliferating epithelial LRCs and most stromal LRCs (85%) lacked estrogen receptor-α (ESR1). These findings suggest that endometrial epithelial LRCs function as stem/progenitor cells by receiving proliferative signals from neighboring ESR1(+) niche cells to initiate the growth of the epithelium during development, while mature epithelial cells may undergo self-replication in cycling endometrium.
authors: Monash University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Rachel W S
authors: RW
authors: Chan
authors: Tu'uhevaha
authors: T
authors: Kaitu'u-Lino
authors: Caroline E
authors: CE
authors: Gargett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens