[Normal human endometrial cells in culture: absence of direct effect of estrogens on cell multiplication]

Primary monolayer cultures of human normal endometrium were realised from 65 wombs of non menopausal women at time of hysterectomy. From these cultures, 19 cell lines were subcultivated in long term cultures (up to 500 days). Primary cultures exhibited a mixture of stromal and epithelial cells. Cell lines were pure : 16 stromal and 3 epithelial lines. These primary, medium-term and long-term cultures were assessed 40 times for growth stimulation by added estrogens. In various conditions of culture medium, delay and duration of administration, estrogens never induced a significant modification of cell proliferation. These results suggest that the in vivo growth-promoting effect of estrogens is indirect, likely mediated by other growth factors.