The expression of laminin, a major constituent of endometrial cell basement membranes, is increased during differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells (decidualization). To determine whether laminin plays a role in decidualization, we studied the effects of laminin substrate on the synthesis and release of prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), two major secretory proteins of decidualized stromal cells. Endometrial stromal cells were plated on laminin as well as several other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (types 1 and IV collagen or fibronectin) and on plastic, and cultured in media containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and estradiol. Cells cultured on plastic or ECM proteins displayed similar morphological changes indicative of decidualization. However, the release of PRL and IGFBP-1 from cells cultured on plastic and ECM proteins (types 1 and IV collagen and fibronection) was approximately 2.1-fold and 2.8-fold greater respectively, than from cells cultured on laminin. The decrease in PRL and IGFBP-1 expression in cells cultured on laminin was not due to differences in initial cell attachment efficiency or final DNA content. In addition, laminin had no effect on the content of laminin protein or fibronectin mRNA levels, indicating that the effects of laminin on PRL and IGFBP-1 were specific. PGE2 stimulated the release of PRL and IGFBP-1 from cells cultured on laminin to levels comparable to those from cells cultured on plastic or other ECM proteins. This indicates that the decrease in PRL and IGFBP-1 release by laminin was not due to a generalized unresponsiveness. In contrast to the effects of laminin during decidualization, PRL expression was not altered by laminin in terminally differentiated decidual cells isolated at term. Our results support a role for laminin in selectively regulating PRL and IGFBP-1 gene expression during in vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.