A Reliable Method for Isolating Endometrial Epithelial Cells from Rabbits, and Preliminary Studies of Prostaglandin Uptake 1

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Abstract
Endometrial epithelial cells were isolated enzymatically from intact, everted uteri of mature rabbits and then by sedimentation at unit gravity. EM examination of these cells taken from estrous and pseudopregnant animals showed that the preparation contained almost pure endometrial cells in the form of plaques with little contamination with other cell types. The cells were judged viable on the basis of the trypan blue exclusion test and the presence of motile cilia. It was observed that pinocytotic activity was greatest at estrus, and declined thereafter, while release of secretory granules increased during pseudopregnancy. There was also a marked increase in the number of free ribosomes and mitochondria as pseudopregnancy progressed (estrus < 4 day < 6 day < 7 day). The cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum were least at 6 days and the Golgi stacks greatest in size and number at 7 days. The uptake of prostaglandin (PG)E2 and F2.alpha. by epithelial cells isolated from rabbits at estrus and at 4, 6 and 7 days, of pseudopregnancy was then determined. The magnitude of PG accumulation varied among the different groups. At low extracellular concentrations, accumulation of both PGE2 and PGF2.alpha. was greatest in the estrous state, much less at 4 days, and least at 6 days of pseudopregnancy. At 7 days of pseudopregnancy, the uptake of PG was similar to those values obtained at 4 days. Both PGE2 and PGF2.alpha. are accumulated by epithelial endometrial cells as a result of a mechanism(s) that is more complex than a saturable, specific receptor-dependent binding system.