Mesenchyme-epithelial interactions in human endometrium. Prostaglandin synthesis in separated cell types.

Glandular epithelium and stromal cells of human endometrium were separated and maintained in monolayer culture. At the time the cells became confluent, cell suspensions were prepared and incubated with [14C]arachidonic acid. Radiolabeled prostaglandin E2 and, to a lesser extent, prostaglandin F2 alpha and metabolites of these prostaglandins, were formed principally in stromal cells. There was considerably less prostaglandin formation in endometrial glands either after maintenance in monolayer culture or in freshly separated glands. In stromal cells of endometrium prostaglandin formation was linear with time of incubation for 2.5 min and with [14C]arachidonic acid concentrations up to 8 microM. When stromal cells and epithelial cells were combined, all prostaglandin formation could be accounted for by that produced in stromal cells. Little or no prostaglandin formation was detected in stromal cells from human adipose tissue or in fibroblasts from human genital or abdominal skin or human fallopian tube.