Effect of matrigel on function and morphology of human endometrial epithelial cell in vitro

The importance of extra cellular matrix (ECM) in development and function of different cells has been reported but little is known about its role in human endometrial epithelial cells. The aim of the present study was to examine effects of artificial ECM (Matrigel) and progesterone on the function and morphology of human endometrial epithelial cells in vitro.

Endometrial samples were removed, with informed patients consent and Ethics Committee approval, from 17 previously fertile women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. The tissue was dissociated and centrifuged to provide an epithelial rich suspension which was cultured either on plastic or seeded into Matrigel to produce polarized cells and then supplemented with or without progesterone (10(-6) M). The amount of nucleic acid content of the cells in both in vitro model systems was examined by DNA, RNA extraction methods. The DNA and RNA content were later measured by spectrophotometry.

The amount of total RNA in cells grown on Matrigel (23 +/- 1.5 pg/cell) was more than double that in cells grown on pllastic (9.1 +/- 1.4 pg/cell). Cells cultured on both in vitro model systems had RNA induced by steroid hormones, but the extent of induction was greater in cells grown on Matrigel (30 +/- 2 pg/cell) than those on plastic (12 +/- 1.9 pg/cell). Cells cultured on Matrigel were differentiated and became polarized but cells grown on plastic proliferated to full confluency. Cells grown on Matrigel with progesterone supplementation were highly polarized, euchromatic and had greater mitochondria and accumulation of glycogen, when compared to unsupplemented cultures.

These results suggest that ECM plays an important role in gene expression, polarization and differentiation of human endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. Endometrial cells grown on ECM responded to steroid hormone in a manner to that reported in endometrial cells in vivo.