EFFECT OF ANTIPROGESTIN RU-486 ON THE PROLIFERATION AND METABOLIC-ACTIVITY OF STROMAL CELLS SEPARATED FROM HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM

The effects of RU 486 on the proliferation and metabolic activity of h uman endometrial stromal cells in culture were studied. RU 486 at 10(- 7) M/well significantly stimulated (P<0.002) the growth as well as met abolic activity in the culture system. Interestingly, RU 486 at 10(-6) M/well did not stimulate metabolic activity in the culture. Progester one, in combination with RU 486 at 10(-7) M/well, caused a significant increase in proliferation (assessed by thymidine incorporation) (P<0. 001) over control and P-4 alone, but not significantly different from RU 486 at 10(-7) M/well alone. The same pattern was observed for metab olic functions (assessed by uridine incorporation) when RU 486 at 10(- 7) M/well, along with P-4, was added to the culture. Interestingly, RU 486 at 10(-6) M/well with P-4 had no effect on RNA synthesis in the c ulture. The relevance of these findings is discussed.