Induction of peritoneal endometriosis in nude mice with use of human immortalized endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells: a potential experimental tool to study molecular pathogenesis of endometriosis in humans Sakhila K. Banu, Ph.D., Anna Starzinski-Powitz, Ph.D., V.O. Speights, D.O., Robert C. Burghardt, Ph.D., Joe A. Arosh, Ph.D. Fertility and Sterility Volume 91, Issue 5, Pages 2199-2209 (May 2009) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.050 Copyright © 2009 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 Histologic characteristics of endometriosis-like lesions induced by immortalized human endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells in nude mice. Cross-section of multiple endometriosis-like lesions is shown at original magnifications of ×50 (A) and ×400 (B and C). (A) Note the presence of well-developed and organized endometriosis glands (red arrow) and developing and organizing endometriosis glands (black arrow) in the submesothelial fatty tissues. SMFC = submesothelial fat cells; BV = blood vessels. (B) Well-developed and organized endometriosis gland with acini. (C) Developing and organizing endometriosis glands with absence of acini. These endometriosis glands were lined with cuboidal or flattened glandular epithelial cells and surrounded by dense stromal cells. GLE = glandular epithelial cells; STR = stromal cells. Numerous blood vessels and capillaries were formed around the endometriosis glands. The blood vessels were lined with flattened endothelial cells and filled with red blood cells (B). Fertility and Sterility 2009 91, 2199-2209DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.050) Copyright © 2009 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Immunohistochemical characterization of endometriosis-like lesions induced by immortalized human endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells in nude mice. (A) Expression of human-specific cytokeratin protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial cells. (B) Expression of human-specific vimentin protein in endometriosis stromal cells. (C) Expression of PCNA in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (D) Expression of MMP2 protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (E) Expression of ERα protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (F) Negative control with serum or IgG. GLE = glandular epithelial; STR = stromal cells; SMFC = submesothelial fat cells. Fertility and Sterility 2009 91, 2199-2209DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.050) Copyright © 2009 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 3 (A–D) Immunohistochemical characterization of endometriosis-like lesions induced by immortalized human endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells in nude mice. GLE = endometriosis glandular epithelial cells; STR = endometriosis stromal cells; SMFC = submesothelial fat cells; 1 = well-developed and organized endometriosis glands; 2 = developing and organizing endometriosis glands. (A) Negative control with serum or IgG. (B) Expression of COX-2 protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (C) Expression of EP2 protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (D) Expression of EP4 protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells. (E and F) Comparison of experimental peritoneal endometriosis in nude mice with native spontaneous peritoneal endometriosis in women. (E) Negative control with serum or IgG. (F) Expression of COX-2 protein in endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells in women. Fertility and Sterility 2009 91, 2199-2209DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.050) Copyright © 2009 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions