Fig. 3. rBM increases ER-mediated response independently of estradiol. (A) Morphological changes in Scp2-ERE-TK-CAT cells grown on plastic (a) or on top rBM (b). Bar, 25 µm. (B) ER-mediated transcriptional activity (measured using CAT as reporter gene) was quantified in cells grown for 3 days on plastic or on top rBM, in the presence or absence of 17ß-estradiol 10^-8 M, or the antagonist ICI 182,780 10^-7 M for the last 48 hours in culture. The reporter activity was expressed relative to values measured in cells grown on plastic in the presence of the vehicle ethanol. n=4; *P<0.01 versus ethanol for each substratum.