Objective Stromal and glandular cells of human endometrium were successfully isolated and cultured in this experiment. Methods These two types of cells were observed by light microscopy and verified by immunocytochemical staining. Results The result showed that some of stromal cells became adherent after.0 5h of culture.Two shapes of stromal cells were found.One was spindle and the another was polygonal.Immunocytochemical staining method showed that both shapes of stromal cells were positive for vimentin,with 95% of positive rate,and negative for cytokeratin 1,indicating that these cells were endometrial stromal cells.Most of glandular cells became adherent after 24h of culture and formed tightly packed whorls after 4d.Individual cells were polygonal and had a large and round nucleus.Immunocytochemical staining method showed that glandular epithelial cells were positive for cytokeratin 1,with 90% of positive rate,suggesting their nature of epithelial cells. Conclusion Stromal and glandular cells of human endometrium were successfully isolated by using two series of filter and cultured in this experiment. [

Objective　To determine whether continuous or cyclic hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestogen) is better. Methods　One hundred and forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups. The 1st and 2nd groups were normal estrous and ovariectomy (OVX) controls. Treatment of the other groups imitated the clinical regimen (continuous and cyclic) with estradiol valerate (E2V) and medroxy progesterone (MPA) in different ratios of combination. The rats were sacrificed and sections of uterus were stained with HE and histochemical metheds to detect mitosis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), respectively. The mitotic index (MI) and PCNA index were calculated. Results　The MI and PCNA index were similar in luminal and glandular cells. Both markers were low in the two control groups. When E2V was given for 1 to 6 days, both the MI and PCNA index increased with duration of treatment. When MPA was added, both markers were reduced to a very low level. In the continuous regimen, both markers decreased as the MPA dosage increased. The ratio of E2V∶MPA=1∶0.5 was enough to suppress markers to a low level similar to that of normal estrous rats. A further increase in the ratio to 1∶1.0 showed no further decrease in PCNA index. In the cyclic regimen, MPA was added for the last 5 days. The mitotic index reached a significantly low level near 0 in all ratios, but the PCNA index in each subgroup was still as high as the positive control, even though the dosage of MPA was increased several times to 1∶8.0. When MPA was added for the last 10 days, the PCNA index at a ratio of 1∶4.0 could be reduced to a low level. Conclusion　The results of this study suggest that the continuous regimen was better than the cyclic regimen in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Progestin should be given for at least 10 days in the cyclic regimen.