Culture of epithelial and stromal cells of guinea-pig endometrium and the effect of oestradiol-17 beta on the epithelial cells.

Epithelial and stromal cells of guinea-pig endometrium were separated by enzymic digestion, isolated by successive centrifugation, and maintained in culture as pure cell types for 5 days on growth medium. On Day 5, ultrastructural studies were performed on the two cell types, demonstrating that epithelial cells can grow as a monolayer composed of cohesive groups of polygonal cells (1.3 X 10(5) cells/cm2), while stromal cells were mostly fibroblastic. The effect of hormones was studied on the epithelial cells in culture. The monolayer was cultured into harvest medium for 3 days to ensure the complete removal of endogenous steroids, then these cells were incubated with 2 X 10(-9) M-oestradiol-17 beta for 3 days. There was a rise in the progesterone receptor level, varying from 1.3 to 10.8 times. The three enzymes known to interfere with oestradiol-17 beta metabolism were present in the epithelial cells grown in our culture conditions. By incubation with oestrone sulphate for 3 days it was demonstrated that, in cultured epithelial cells, oestrone sulphate is converted into oestradiol-17 beta sulphate, and oestrogen sulphates are hydrolysed to active oestrogens.