[Chromosomes of normal human endometrial cells in long-term culture]. / Chromosomes des cellules endométriales humaines normales en culture à long terme.

The number of chromosomes was established in five long-term human normal endometrial cultures, at different times from 15 to 350 days. Among these cultures three were fibroblastic and two epithelial. -- Cultivated fibroblastic cells are essentially diploïd; epithelial cells are frequently polyploïd. -- Epithelial cells become quickly polyploïd but the rate of polyploïdy does not increase with the life span of the culture; so it is not a degenerative mark, but a physiological property of that type of cells, useful for characterization in culture between epithelial and stromal cell lines of the endometrium.

[Cloacogenic transitional epithelium of the anal canal and Solère's theory on cloacal partitioning]. / Epithélium transitionnel cloacogénique du canal anal et théorie de Solere du cloisonnement du cloaque.

A transitional zone, between the squamous and columnar epithelium is described at the anorectal junction. Its existence, unknown in most of the Histology text books is an indirect evidence of the theory of SOLERE (1969). According to this author, there is a flattened sagittal entoblastic bud, shared by uro-genital and anal zones, achieving the closure of the cloacal cavity in its distal part. Some data which agree with this theory are discussed.

[Normal human endometrial cells in culture: absence of direct effect of estrogens on cell multiplication]. / Cellules endométriales humaines hormales en culture : absence d'action directe des (estrogènes sur la multiplication cellulaire.

Primary monolayer cultures of human normal endometrium were realised from 65 wombs of non menopausal women at time of hysterectomy. From these cultures, 19 cell lines were subcultivated in long term cultures (up to 500 days). Primary cultures exhibited a mixture of stromal and epithelial cells. Cell lines were pure : 16 stromal and 3 epithelial lines. These primary, medium-term and long-term cultures were assessed 40 times for growth stimulation by added estrogens. In various conditions of culture medium, delay and duration of administration, estrogens never induced a significant modification of cell proliferation. These results suggest that the in vivo growth-promoting effect of estrogens is indirect, likely mediated by other growth factors.

[Growth and morphologic characteristics of normal human endometrial cells in primary culture]. / Caractères de croissance et morphologie des cellules endométriales normales humaines en primo-culture.

Monolayer cultures of endometrium were established from 59 normal women after hysterectomy. The technical procedure is described, allowing cells in monolayer to grow satisfactorily for more than 60 days, showing a doubling-time of about 4-5 days. During early passages, two cell populations are characterized by microscopic examination : confluent areas of epithelial polygonal cells and scattered fusiform fibroblastic cells. After the 8th passage, epithelial cells are no longer recognized : the monolayer is homogeneous and all cells are fibroblast-like. These cells are an interesting model system for steroid sex hormone studies.