Morphological characteristics and protein profile of isolated human decidual cells

Isolated decidual cells were prepared from human decidual tissue obtained during early pregnancy by digesting the tissue fragments with 0.1% collagenase solution. Morphological studies of the cells were carried out using morphometric and flow cytometric analysis while the protein profile was analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration column chromatography. An average of 90% cell viability was achieved and the results showed that decidual cells constitute up to 70% of cell number and 89% of cell area of the isolated decidual cell suspension. The presence of serum proteins in uterine tissue extracts is due to blood contamination. However, the similarities of the non-serum protein profiles in tissue and cellular extracts validates previous studies performed in uterine fluids and tissue extracts. Finally, at least one unique uterine protein appeared to be a sub-unit of a larger molecule.