Effects of Epidermal Growth Factor and Interleukin-1 on Plasminogen Activator Secretion and Decidualization in Rat Endometrial Stromal Cells¹

^a Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1 ^b Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) increases decidualization and net plasminogen activator (PA) activity in the medium of cultured endometrial stromal cells from ovariectomized rats sensitized for the decidual cell reaction. Because interleukin-1 (IL-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate PGE₂ production by these cells, the present study determined their effects on decidualization and on the levels of PA activity in the medium. Cells were treated with or without IL-1 (20 ng/ml) and EGF (40 ng/ml) for up to 72 h, and net PA activity in the medium and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (a marker for decidualization) in the cells were measured. After 48 and 72 h of treatment with IL-1, net PA activity levels decreased by 60% and 85%, respectively. EGF significantly increased net PA activity at 24, 48, and 72 h. ALP activity in the cells at 24, 48, and 72 h increased in response to IL-1 but not EGF. These results indicate that IL-1, but not EGF, enhances decidualization of the cells as indicated by ALP activity. Moreover, they suggest that net PA activity in the medium is not a useful marker of decidualization.

¹ The Medical Research Council of Canada supported this research by Grant MT-10414 to T.G.K., and Grant MT-12107 to X.Z. who was also the recipient of a MRC Scholarship Award.

² Correspondence: T.G. Kennedy, Department of Physiology, The University of Western Ontario, M223 Medical Sciences Building, London, ON, Canada N6A 5C1. FAX: (519) 661-3827; tkennedy{at}physiology.uwo.ca

³ Current address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611.

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