Isolation and purification of microvascular endothelium from human decidual tissue in the late phase of pregnancy.

Normal pregnancy demands significant structural and physiologic adaptations of the uterine microvasculature, to facilitate adequate placentation. In pregnancies complicated by pregnancy-associated hypertension (preeclampsia), this process is defective, resulting in a high incidence of intrauterine growth retardation. The microvascular endothelium, a focal point for both initiation and inhibition of coagulation and control of vascular tone, may well contribute to development and aggravation of these abnormalities. We describe a method for isolation, purification, and culture of human decidual endothelial cells from biopsies performed at the time of cesarean section. The separation procedure is technically simple, requires only a small piece of tissue, and takes approximately 2 hours to perform. Some of the unique features of these cells in culture are outlined. This technique will permit the close examination of various aspects of the function of these cells in normal pregnancy, and their comparison with cells from pregnancies complicated by hypertension.