Aromatase activity in monolayer cell cultures of human endometrium

Abstract

Monolayer cell cultures of proliferative human endometrial stramal cells were incubated with 100 nCi ³H-androstenedione or 100 nCi ³H-testosterone for 15 hours. After termination of the incubations 16% of the recovered radioactivity was identified as estronc by thin layer chromatography and subsequent recristillization. ³H-testosterone was almost quantitatively converted to -³H-androstenedione.

³H-dihydro testosterone remained unmetabolized.

These findings indicate a highly active 17β-ol-dehvdrogenase and a high aromatizing capacity of human endometrial cells.