IN-VITRO CULTURE OF ENDOMETRIAL STROMAL AND GLAND-CELLS AS A MODEL FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS - THE EFFECT OF PERITONEAL-FLUID ON PROLIFERATION

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the cell-free fraction of PF fr om women with endometriosis affects the proliferation of endometrial e pithelial and stromal cells in vitro. Design: A cell biologic and immu nohistochemical study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Patient( s): Premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopy and women with histolog ically normal endometrium undergoing hysterectomy were selected. Inter vention(s): Peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum were collected at laparosc opy. Endometrial epithelial and stromal cells were obtained by enzymic dissociation of tissue, and epithelium was separated from stromal cel ls by sieving. Epithelial and stromal cell populations were purified b y removal of contaminating cells using Thy-1- and CD-45-labeled immuno magnetic beads. Isolated endometrial gland and stromal cells were cult ured in the presence of PF or serum from women with and without endome triosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cell proliferation was assessed by m easurement of incorporation of (3)[H]thymidine after 48 hours in cultu re. Result(s): Isolated endometrial gland and stromal cells were able to proliferate in vitro. The proliferative effect of PF or sera from w omen with endometriosis did not differ significantly from normal contr ols. Conclusion(s): We conclude that PF from women with endometriosis does not have an additional mitogenic effect compared with women witho ut endometriosis. It may be postulated that the endometrium from women with endometriosis responds differently to the effects of PF.