Effect of hormonal manipulation on human fallopian tubal epithelium in vitro.

Abstract

Estradiol (E2) induced ciliogenesis has been demonstrated in several mammalian species. There is no consensus as to what extent, if any, this occurs in humans. The aim of this study was to determine whether hormonal manipulation could limit deciliation and/or stimulate ciliogenesis using human tubal epithelium in vitro. Experiment 1: Tubal epithelial organ explant cultures were established from nine women undergoing hysterectomy. Several segments from each tube were fixed immediately (in vivo control), the remainder were maintained in culture for one week. One group received no hormontal treatment (in vitro control). The others were supplemented with E2 2 ng/ml (low E2) or 10 ng/ml (high E2), Clomiphene citrate 300 ng/ml + low E2 (CC), and progesterone 300 ng/ml + low E2 (P4). All specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy and the percent ciliated area determined. Experiment 2: Tubal epithelial cultures were established from an additional 11 patients. After 1 week in culture, half of the explants from each patient were supplemented with E2 15 ng/ml vs no E2 and maintained for another week. The specimens were examined as above, as well as with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experiment 1: After 1 week in culture the mean percent ciliated areas in the in vitro control (24.8 +/- 17.9), low E2 (24.7 +/- 17.0), P4 (20.7 +/- 10.7), and CC (25.8 +/- 17.2) were approximately half the in vivo control (45.7 +/- 10.4), P = 0.005. The high E2 group (39.7 +/- 19.7) was significantly higher than the in vitro control, P = 0.008, but was not different from the in vivo control. Experiment 2: Both groups demonstrated a great reduction in ciliated area and were not significantly different from each other, E2 (8.3 +/- 10.8) and control (3.0 +/- 3.0). TEM failed to demonstrate ciliogenic precursors in either group. High E2 was capable of preventing initial epithelial deciliation in vitro. Once deciliation started however, high E2 was unable to limit the process or induce ciliogenesis.