An improved procedure for the preparation of rat uterine cell suspensions

In the present paper we report on an improved procedure for the preparation of free uterine cells which avoids the use of trypsin and employs very low concentration of collagenase. The cells released mechanically from the digested tissue are constantly removed from the enzyme containing medium, thus minimizing exposure to collagenase. 60%-70% of the cells which make up the intact uterus are obtained as free cells and 95% of these cells are viable for at least 15 hours at 37 degrees. Metabolic integrity was assessed by measuring the cell's ability to oxidize glucose and synthesize proteins over extended periods of time. The membrane leucine carrier protein and the membrane Na+/K+ ATPase were found to be fully functional. Electron microscopic analysis of the cells confirmed their structural integrity. Data are presented illustrating that with this system the estrogen binding protein is stable at physiological temperatures. The cells contain approximately 30,000 specific estrogen binding sites, with an apparent KA of 5--6 x 10(9) M-1. At 37 degrees 80% of the hormone receptor complexes were in the nuclear fraction, 20% in the cytoplasm. The similarity of the estrogen receptor binding parameters with those measured in the intact tissue after in vivo hormone adminsistration, together with the cells' structural and metabolic integrity make this procedure for the preparation of uterine cell suspensions in high yields particularly suitable for studies in which minimal cell injury is an essential prerequisite.