Promotion of human adipocyte precursor replication by 17beta-estradiol in culture.

Abstract

A B S T R A C T The influence of 17,8-estradiol and 17a-estradiol on adult human omental adipocyte pre- cursors grown in a propagating culture system was studied. Cells were grown in subculture in the pres- ence or absence of hormone. 17/3-estradiol resulted in significant promotion of adipocyte precursor repli- cation, as determined by cell counting and incorpora- tion of radioactive thymidine into DNA. The hormone stimulated cell multiplication in the concentration range 0.5-500 nglml growth medium. The highest level tested was 500 nglml. The maximal effects were obtained at 50 nglml (P < 0.001 by paired t test, 48 h after hormone addition). All 10 cell strains (five were derived from men and five from women) that were tested responded similarly to the hormone. 17,3-estradiol did not affect cell size. 17a-estradiol did not pro- mote the replication of adipocyte precursors, nor did it influence cell size. Thus, 17,8-estradiol, which is the active isomer in known target tissues, stimulates the multiplication of human adipocyte precursors in culture.