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Objective: Endometriosis is a common disease in which the endometrial stroma and glands grow abnormally outside the uterine cavity. The establishment of animal models can be effective for determining the etiology of endometriosis. In this study we compare two endometriosis models using endometrial fragments and isolated cultured endometrial cells. Methods: We obtained endometrial tissues that were in the proliferative or secretory phases from women who underwent hysteroscopies for benign reasons at Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran). Following confirmation of the tissue's normality, we cut the tissues into 2 mm cube pieces.  The remainder of endometrial tissues were used for isolation and cultured to the fourth passage. In the first model of endometriosis, the endometrial tissue fragments and in the second model, 2×106 isolated endometrial cells were subcutaneously transplanted into gamma irradiated mice. The mice were kept under controlled, sterile conditions for 20 days. The mice sera were collected before and after transplantation for assessment of 17β estradiol. The ectopic tissues in both models were assessed for morphological staining using hematoxylin and eosin, as well as periodic acid Schiff (PAS) for gland secretion. The gland sections per mm2 were analyzed. Results: At 20 days after tissue transplantation, we observed endometrial-like glands in the subcutaneous tissue of both endometriosis models. The number of gland sections was 57.55 ± 17.18/mm2 for the first model and 271.57 ± 77.98/mm2 for the second model. This result was significantly higher in the second model when compared to the first model. Gland secretion was positive for PAS. The level of 17β estradiol was higher in both models compared to the control group. This level was significantly higher in the second model compared to the first (P≤0.05). Conclusion: The endometriosis model that used cultured endometrial cells showed more efficiency in morphology, gland formation and level of17β estradiol.

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Pistachios play a vital role in Iran’s agricultural export. Recently, however, Iran has lost considerable amount of its market share in international trade. This study aimed to address the price and non-price factors affecting the pistachio markets of Iran by estimating a structural system of equations. The domestic supply and demand for pistachios in Iran along with its export demand and supply to European Union, East Asia, and West Asia markets were estimated simultaneously, during 1988 to 2015. The results indicate that Research and Development (R&D) has had a positive effect on the pistachio supply and exports. Hence, it is proposed that the allocation of R&D funding in Iran be reconsidered. However, advertising has an insignificant effect on the Iranian’s export supply in international market. Hence, reviewing the type of advertisement is a vital issue for future research. European countries are less sensitive to the Iranian’s export price of pistachios, while they pay more attention to the quality and taste of the Iranian’s pistachio.