Effect of progesterone in long-term endometrial cell culture: study of the synthesis of prostaglandins, thromboxane, prostacyclin and prolactin.

Cultured monolayers of endometrial cells synthesized PGE2, PGF2 alpha, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (DHKF2 alpha), TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Synthesis increased with the duration of culture, reaching a maximum at approximately the 20th day for PGF2 alpha and PGE2; PGF2 alpha levels always exceeded those of PGE2. Transformation of PGF2 alpha into DHKF2 alpha was minimal. Maximal levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were noted after 7 and 14 days respectively. After three weeks, traces of DHKF2 alpha, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were noted, whereas PGF2 alpha levels were marked after 30 days of culture. Addition of progesterone (0.32 ng/ml) reduced PG production, notably for PGF2 alpha, but promoted prolactin synthesis, indicating that this progesterone concentration induced decidualization of endometrial cells during the first days of culture.