Characterization of human uterus-derived growth substances

Human myometrium and endometrium extracts processed separately could stimulate tritiated-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of cells with the fibroblast, myoblast and osteoblast phenotype. This effect was dose-dependent. Mitogenic activity of myometrial and endometrial extracts was acid stable and sensitive to tryptic digestion. In addition, mitogens of myometrial and of endometrial extracts were retained and could be eluted by 80% acetonitrile over 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid from cartridges of octadecylsilyl-silica. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (r-HPLC) separated fractions of myometrial extracts with broad cell and preferential cell type specificity from fractions with inhibitory activity for detector cells. Reverse-phase HPLC revealed the presence in endometrial extracts of various fractions with mitogenic activity for all detector cells. These growth and inhibitory factors could mediate important autocrine, paracrine and/or endocrine regulatory processes of human uterus.