Compared effects of oestrogens and oestrone sulphate on the epithelial cell surface of guinea-pig endometrium (in vivo and in vitro studies).

The comparative effect of oestradiol-17 beta, oestrone and oestrone-3-sulphate was examined on guinea-pig endometrium in primary culture. A parallel study was conducted in vivo to appreciate hormonal effects on the uterine luminal surface of ovariectomized guinea-pigs. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that uterine epithelial cells were responsive to physiological concentrations of E2, E1 and E1S. Their plasma membrane was dramatically modified by 2.10(-9) M E2 and 10(-7) M E1S, but there are clear qualitative differences between the effect of E2 and of E1S. These effects were abolished by progesterone or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Guinea-pig uterine epithelial cells in primary culture and in vivo are responsive to E2 and to E1S but their response to E1S appears to be more specific and can be distinguished by the cell surface morphology.