title: Quantification of endometriotic lesions in a murine model by fluorimetric and morphometric analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In animal models of endometriosis, the identification and quantification of lesions originating from human endometrium is often hampered by the small size of the implants and their embedding in murine tissue. The purpose of the present study was to develop two new methods of quantifying endometriosis-like lesions in a nude mouse model: fluorimetry and morphometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human menstrual endometrium was labelled using a fluorescent tracker, carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE), and transplanted into the pelvic cavity of mice by injection through the peritoneum after performing a cutaneous incision. After 5 days, lesions were recovered by laparotomy. The fluorescence of the recovered endometriotic lesions was measured. Endometrial stroma and glands were immunostained in lesion sections with anti-CD10 and anti-CK22 antibodies, and their surface area was evaluated by morphometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluorescent labelling allows identification of lesions not visible macroscopically. A good correlation was observed between fluorimetry and morphometry (r=0.88) applied for lesion quantification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluorimetric evaluation combined with morphometric analysis of endometriosis-like lesions allows objective and reliable recording of endometriosis development in a nude mouse model. This quantification method could therefore be useful for future pharmacological and toxicological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Defrère
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Langendonckt
authors.forename: Reinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González Ramos
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jouret
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mettlen
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D023421:Models, Animal; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000032:analysis; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
chemical_list: D015260:Neprilysin