Table 1.

An overview of techniques used in the study of endometrial cells and tissues with examples of the research in which they were applied.

	Technique	Example of Application
Microscopic techniques	Optical microscopy	Classification of benign, atypical and malignant cells [13]
	Transmission and scanning electron microscopy	Analysis of structure differences between epithelial and stromal cells [14]
	Transmission electron microscopy	Observation of ultrastructural differences between endometrial cell from fertile woman and from woman with repeated implantation failure [7]
	Confocal microscopy	Molecules tracking as source of information on the course of cellular processes e.g., Observation of actin expression changes during endometriosis [5] Tracking of mesenchymal to epithelial transition markers [15] Analysis of phase of menstrual cycle [16]
	Atomic force microscopy	Height and roughness measurement, e.g., changes after progesterone treatment [16] or during decidualization [15]
	Time-lapse video-microscopy	Change of migration ability resulting from endometriosis [5]
Gene and protein expression analysis (both complete research and research support)	Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot	Confirmation of the ongoing cellular processes based on the expression of gen or protein [5,16,17] Monitoring of stretch-induced protein secretion in the context of uterine contractility [18]
	Real-time polymerase chain reaction	Observation of gene expression changes during subsequent cycles e.g., in decidualization [15]
Enzymatic tests	Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay	Analysis of surface markers e.g., in decidualization [15] Monitoring of stretch-induced protein secretion in the context of uterine contractility [18]
	Histochemistry	In situ activity analysis of ectonucleotidases as markers of endometriosis and endometrial cancer [19,20]
Analytical technique	Flow cytometry	Analysis of surface markers, assessment of cell quality, e.g., in cell phenotype determination [21]
Vibration technique	Raman spectroscopy	Chemical composition of sample, e.g., in endometriosis diagnosis based on Raman spectrum [12]
	Infrared micro-spectroscopy	Chemical composition of sample, e.g., changes caused by endometriosis [22]
Mechanical properties measurement	Atomic force microscopy	Determination of Young’s modulus and adhesion of decidualized cells [15] Determination of adhesion in implantation process [9]