Polarized and Non-Poarized Human Oviduct Epithelial Cell Ultrastructure in Vitro

Purpose: This study designed to examine polarized culture of epithelial cells from human ovidutc and their ultrastracture under polarizing condition. Materials and Methods: The human oviduct was obtained from patients having undergone total hysterectomy and epithelial cells were isolated using collagenase type I. The epithelial cells were either cultured on ECM (Extracellular matrix) Gel coated millipore filter inserts or polysteren plastic surface as polarized or non-polarized culture respectively. Epithelial nature of the cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Both cultured cells (polarized and non-polarized) and oviductal mocusa were prepared for TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) and embeded using either routin procedure (polarized cells and oviduct mocusa) or flat embedding technique (non-polarized cells). Results: The cells cultured on plastic surface were morphologically different as compared to those existed in oviduct mocusa. These cells were appeard spindle shape in the microscopic sections and in contrast to in vivo state, no tight junction were observed between adjacent cells. The epithelial cells cultured on ECM-Gel, similar to cells in oviduct mocusa were columnar in shape with basally located nucleuose, apical microvilli and tight Junction between the cells. Observing of the sections revealed some differences between ECM-Gel cultured and in vivo cells in term of ciliated cells, nuclear euchromatin, amaunt of mithochondira and the presence of lipid droplets. Conclusion: The epithelial cells of human oviduct cultured on ECM-Gel could maintain polarity but their ultrastructure were not as same as that from oviduct tissue, perphas due to the some factors exsited in vivo but not in our culture condition such as stromal cells and hormonal factors.