Figure 2.

IL-1β–induced changes in endometriosis stromal cell (ESC) morphology and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Eutopic endometriosis stromal cells (EESCs) were cultured in complete medium without (control) or with recombinant 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 48 hours (+IL-1β) and visualized under phase-contrast microscopy. Cell shape indices measured as described in the text revealed that IL-1β treatment significantly reduced cell roundness. EESCs grown under identical conditions on chamber slides were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and cold acetone and stained by immunofluorescence cytochemistry with anti-BDNF antibodies (green). Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). BDNF pixel counts were significantly reduced in IL-1β–exposed EESCs. n = 4 for cell shape; n = 3 IL-1β–exposed EESCs. Original magnification, ×400.