In-vitro development and degeneration of stromal cells from the uterus of the rat at three stages of pregnancy
in ReproductionSummary. On Days 6, 11 or 16 of pregnancy, endometrial tissue (Day 6) or decidual tissue (Days 11 and 16) were removed from rat uteri, dissociated into single cells and grown in culture. At intervals during the culture period, the cells were examined and the cell density was calculated. The cells from Days 11 and 16 of pregnancy were similar in appearance, being very large and flattened. Initially, cells from Day 6 were much smaller, but showed an increase in size and came to resemble cells from the later stages of pregnancy. Growth curves for cells from each of the three stages of pregnancy over the first 16 days of culture differed. Cells from Day 6 of pregnancy increased exponentially in number. In cultures of cells from Day 11, cell numbers were stable, and in cultures of cells from Day 16, an exponential decline was seen. Cells from Days 6 and 11 of pregnancy were cultured for 42 days, by which time only a few cells remained viable. Cultures of cells from Day 16 degenerated within 3 weeks.
These results indicate that, in vivo, decidual cells are not controlled solely by a 'programmed lifespan'. Changes occurring during pregnancy, however, limit the potential of the cells for division and survival in culture.
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