Organ culture of human endometrium. Effect of ovarian steroids

Glycogen turnover was determined in 86 normal and 52 sterility patients through the chemical analysis of endometrial glycogen content, glycogen synthetase and glycogen phosphorylase activities. Specimens from 38 of these normal patients as well as 31 sterility patients were also subjected to the organ culture process. These studies suggest to us that (1) an organ culture system is an ideal avenue of approach for the study of this glandular epithelial tissue and (2) that estradiol is not solely responsible for the increase in glycogen deposition in human endometrium, but that progesterone following estrogen priming is essential for a complete response of glycogenesis. This study further demonstrates in organ culture that estradiol-induced proliferative changes in the tissue, while progesterone not only caused cellular alterations but also induced an increase in glycogen deposition. Preliminary studies with the enzyme systems in organ culture suggest a role of progesterone in phosphorylase activity, particularly during the secretory phase where a controlled breakdown of glycogen is desired.