The endometrium lines the uterine cavity, enables implantation of the embryo, and provides an environment for its development and growth. Numerous methods, including microscopic and immunoenzymatic techniques, have been used to study the properties of the cells and tissue of the endometrium to understand changes during, e.g., the menstrual cycle or implantation. Taking into account the existing state of knowledge on the endometrium and the research carried out using other tissues, it can be concluded that the mechanical properties of the tissue and its cells are crucial for their proper functioning. This review intends to emphasize the potential of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the research of endometrium properties. AFM enables imaging of tissues or single cells, roughness analysis, and determination of the mechanical properties (Young’s modulus) of single cells or tissues, or their adhesion. AFM has been previously shown to be useful to derive force maps. Combining the information regarding cell mechanics with the alternations of cell morphology or gene/protein expression provides deeper insight into the uterine pathology. The determination of the elastic modulus of cells in pathological states, such as cancer, has been proved to be useful in diagnostics.

中文翻译：

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子宫内膜病理学研究方法和原子力显微镜在子宫内膜研究中的潜力

子宫内膜排列在子宫腔内，使胚胎能够着床，并为其发育和生长提供环境。许多方法，包括显微镜和免疫酶学技术，已被用于研究子宫内膜细胞和组织的特性，以了解在例如月经周期或植入期间的变化。考虑到对子宫内膜的现有知识和使用其他组织进行的研究，可以得出结论，组织及其细胞的机械特性对其正常运作至关重要。本综述旨在强调原子力显微镜 (AFM) 在子宫内膜特性研究中的潜力。AFM 能够对组织或单个细胞进行成像、粗糙度分析、和测定单个细胞或组织的机械性能（杨氏模量），或它们的粘附。AFM 先前已被证明可用于导出力图。将有关细胞力学的信息与细胞形态或基因/蛋白质表达的变化相结合，可以更深入地了解子宫病理。已证明确定病理状态（例如癌症）中细胞的弹性模量可用于诊断。