Figure 1.

Study design. The first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line SGHPL-4 was divided into 2 main groups: “continuous” and “intermittent” exposure to cortisol. Each of these groups was divided into another 5 groups according to the cortisol dose (0, 100, 250, 500, or 1000 nM). The cells were plated on the first day, and the next day, the medium was replaced with one with only 0.5% FBS (fasting). After 24 h starvation, the cells were treated with cortisol (a ready-to-use solution prepared in 100% methanol) in the culture medium, and the control cells were supplemented with the same volume of methanol (vehicle). Continuous exposure groups received the cortisol doses 24 h/day, for 3 days, and intermittent exposure groups received cortisol in the culture medium for 2 h/day, also for 3 days. The culture medium was changed daily.