It is well known that the growth of endometrium is under the influence of estrogen and progesterone during normal menstrual cycle. However, the exact mechanisms by which estrogen or progesterone exert its effects upon the endometrium have not
been
fully
elucidated. Recently the involvement of growth factors in the regulation of the growth of endometrium has been suggested and the possible role of growth factors in the pathogenesis of endomtriosis, namely in the ectopic implantation of
regurgitated
endometrium has been proposed.
We have examined the effects of etrogen(17β-estradiol), progesterone, epidermal growth factor(EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), alone or in combination with another, on the proliferation of human endometrial stroma cell sin vitro,
assessed by [3H[-thymidine uptake assay.
In serum-free madia, estrogen showed the stimulatory effect on the proliferation of stromal cells, while progesterone showed the inhibitory effect. And the presence of insulin was not necessary to maintain the stimulatory effect of estrogen.
However, in
serum-containing(2.5% fetal bovine serum: FBS) media, the stimulatory effect of estrogen was not observed, compared to control, while the inhibitory effect of progesterone was noted only in the high concentration (10E-7 M) of progesterone,
Both EGF and bFGF showed the stimulatory effects on the proliferation of human endometrial stromal cells in serum-free media. The presence of estrogen enhanced the stimulatory effect of EGF and bFGF, more markedly that of EFG than that of bFGF.
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