Steroid hormone and growth factor action in normal and cancer cells

Munir, Mohammad Idrees (1983) Steroid hormone and growth factor action in normal and cancer cells. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The endometrium is an epithelio-mesenchymal structure. The growth and differentiation of normal endometrial cells is regulated by the interactions of both polypeptide and steroid hormones. An understanding of how hormones affect proliferation and metabolic activities, necessarily involves knowledge of the regulatory processes of these cellular functions. The regulation of the frequency of replication in animal cells is a complex phenomenon for which much of the molecular basis is currently unknown. Cell cultures, which are exempt from tissue and systemic influences are ideal for investigating whether individual growth factors are acting directly on the endometrial cell. Primary cultures of both normal and malignant epithelial cells were investigated. These cells have been grown both as pure epithelial cultures and as mixed populations of epithelial and stromal cells. The purpose of this study was first, to evaluate some of the critical data now available on various aspects of steroid regulated growth, and second to develop in vitro new models of steroid promoted growth that can accommodate current information. Different cell types, from both rat uterus and human endometrium, were separated by enzymatic and mechanical techniques. Epithelial cells were tentatively identified by comparison of their morphologic features in culture with the well documented features of endometrial cells in vivo. Moreover, epithelial nature was also confirmed using immunocytochemical criteria. Growth dynamics of these cells in culture were analysed by the classical techniques of 3H-thymidine incorporation, cell proliferation index and morphological criteria. Serum performs many functions in cell culture. In addition to providing classical hormones and growth factors, it compensates for the deficiences of defined media, supplying additional nutrients and trace elements. To determine the minimum requirements for foetal calf serum in cultures of normal and malignant cells derived from endometrium, this study reports a detailed examination of growth requirements of endometrial cells during the early culture. The results presented in Chapter 4 strongly suggest that it is possible to eliminate serum from culture medium and that the main function of serum in cell culture is to furnish hormones and other growth factors. The most important factors are EGF, transferrin, insulin and glucocorticoids. The role of serum in attachment and spreading of these cells was also assessed. Charcoal stripping of serum at 4C enhanced the attachment, whereas, the same treatment of serum at 56

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Robin Leake
• Keywords: Cellular biology, Endocrinology
• Date of Award: 1983
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1983-73770
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73770