The role of oestrogen in the control of ciliated cells of the human endometrium

Abstract

Ciliated cells have been recognized in the human endometrium since the end of the last century (Benda, 1894). Originally believed to occur only in pathologic conditions or as tubal metaplasia, the ciliated cell has now been shown to occur in the normal endometrium and to undergo cyclic changes in numbers, ranging to a maximum of 20% in the ovulatory phase. Ciliated cells also occur in the genital tracts of other animals. Ciliation has been shown to be stimulated by estrogen in ovariectomized immature monkeys whilst complete loss of cilia in the rabbit oviduct follows castration. Such findings are suggestive of hormonal control over ciliated cell populations derived from paramesonephric tissues. This hypothesis was tested for human endometrial ciliated cells the incidence of which was determined. Conditions associated with an excess of estrogenic activity were characterized by an increased incidence of ciliated cells, whilst estrogen deficiency was associated with decreased numbers. When endometrium was cultured, addition of estradiol 17β caused an increase in the ciliated cell population.