Quantitative evaluation of the influence of ovarian steroids on plasminogen activators and inhibitors in human endometrial cells and trophoblasts.

Introduction: Plasminogen activators and inhibitors were quantitated in cultured human endometrial and trophoblast cells under the influence of ovarian steroids in order to investigate the role of the fibrinolytic system for trophoblast invasion and anchorage.

Materials And Methods: Plasminogen activators (t-PA and u-PA) and their inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) secretions were assayed in cultures of epithelial, stromal, and trophoblast cells. These cells were also cultured on a fibrin substrate for microscopic examination of the fibrinolytic degradation.