[Ultrastructure of human endometrium in vitro in various phases of the menstrual cycle]

Samples of normal human endometrial tissue from eight young women were initiated in tissue culture. Four biopsies were obtained during the first phase of the cycle and four during the secretory phase. The aim of the work was to characterize ultrastructurally the possible changes of the glandular tissue without being dissociated from the stromal component. At eight hours of incubation there was preservation of all cellular components in the tissue from the first phase of the cycle whereas there were minor degenerative changes in the endometrium from the secretory phase but with outstanding preservation of intranuclear canaliculi typical of this phase. After 16 hours minimal changes were seen in proliferative endometrium while severe changes were present in secretory endometrium. The study suggests that whole endometrium in culture can be used to characterize the short time effect of drugs and substances administered during the first phase of the menstrual cycle.