Secretory component production by immature rat uteri and uterine epithelial cells in culture

Abstract

The present studies demonstrate that incubation of uteri from immature rats treated with estradiol for 1, 2 or 3 days in vivo, results in the accumulation of increasing amounts of secretory component in culture media relative to saline controls. In addition, our findings indicate that isolated uterine luminal epithelial cells cultured on a matrix-coated permeable surface with separate apical and basolateral secretory compartments release secretory component into culture media (apical chamber) both prior to and following their growth to confluence.