Human endometrium in cell culture: a new method for culturing human endometrium as separate epithelial and stromal components.

The present study describes a simple method for culturing human endometrium as separate epithelial and stromal components. Fifty-two samples of normal human endometrium have been initiated in tissue culture: endometrium from both the proliferative and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle showed satisfactory growth in vitro with a success rate of about 94%. Epithelial cultures remained viable for 60 days, while from stromal cells it was possible to establish cell lines. Both cell types possessed estrogen receptors. Epithelial cells showed no clear estrogen or progesterone response. Our observations suggest that this simple method for culturing human endometrium may serve as a tool in further investigations.