Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
08:37
Isolation of Mouse Endometrial Epithelial and Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization
Published on: March 2, 2017
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In vitro reminiscence: uterine programming in vivo affects respective luminal epithelial cells function in vitro†
Cecilia Constantino Rocha1, Andrey Luiz Lopes Cordeiro2, Meghan Campbell1
1Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA.
Biology of Reproduction
|June 24, 2024
Summary
Cattle uterine cells retain a "cellular memory" of in vivo stimuli, influencing their behavior in culture. This discovery offers insights into bovine fertility and endometrial responses.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Animal Science
Background:
- The bovine endometrium exhibits dynamic cellular responses to transient stimuli during diestrus and early pregnancy.
- Understanding how these stimuli influence endometrial cells long-term is crucial for reproductive success in cattle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a model for studying cellular memory in the bovine endometrium.
- To investigate if in vivo stimuli are retained as cellular memory in isolated bovine uterine epithelial cells (BUECs).
- To measure BUEC proliferation, migration, and responsiveness to recombinant bovine Interferon-tau (rbIFNT) in vitro.
Main Methods:
- BUECs were isolated from cows experiencing estrus, cultured, and subjected to various experimental conditions (pregnancy status, progesterone supplementation, COX-1/2 inhibitor treatment).
- In vitro assays included proliferation/migration (scratch assay) and responsiveness to rbIFNT.
- Endometrial cytology was collected 4 days post-estrus for all experiments.
Main Results:
- BUECs from pregnant cows demonstrated enhanced rbIFNT responsiveness and proliferation.
- Progesterone supplementation in vivo led to inhibited BUEC proliferation and increased RSAD2 expression.
- Flunixin Meglumine altered BUEC responsiveness to rbIFNT in an IFN-signaling pathway-specific manner.
- Distinct cow groups showed inherent differences in BUEC proliferative capacity and rbIFNT responsiveness.
Conclusions:
- Physiological and pharmacological stimuli experienced by the endometrium in vivo are retained as cellular memory in BUECs.
- This cellular memory persists through in vitro culture, altering BUEC proliferation, migration, and rbIFNT responsiveness.
- These findings provide insights into cellular memory's role in bovine fertility and endometrial function.
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