Effect of steroid hormones on vaginal epithelial cells: An in vitro model for steroid hormone action.

ABSTRACT

Conditions have been standardized to maintain rat vaginal epithelial cells in vitro with more than 95% viability. Cultured epithelial cells were used to study the effects of normal fetal calf scrum, estradiol and progesterone on the incorporation of [3H]-uridine in RNA and incorporation of [l4C]-aminoacids in proteins. While fetal calf serum and estradiol stimulate the incorporation of both uridine and afno acids, progesterone did not show any effect. Estradiol treated vaginal cells show typical fcroridges (indicative of keratinization of cells) in contrast to estradiol deprived cells, which show microvilli on cell surface when examined in scanning electron microscope.