The inhibitory effect of celecoxib and rosiglitazone on experimental endometriosis

OLIVARES, CARLA NOEMÍ; RICCI, ANALÍA GABRIELA; BILOTAS, MARIELA ANDREA; BARAÑAO, ROSA INÉS; MERESMAN, GABRIELA FABIANA

FERTILITY AND STERILITY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2011

0015-0282

Objective: To evaluate the effects of celecoxib and rosiglitazone on the implantation and growth of endometriotic like lesions in a murine model of endometriosis. Design: Prospective experimental study. Setting: Animal research and laboratory facility. Animals: Two months old female BALB/c mice. Intervention: Endometriosis was surgically induced in female BALB/C mice. After 28 days of treatment with celecoxib, rosiglitazone or their combination, animals were sacrificed and lesions were counted, measured, excised and fixed. Main outcome measures: Immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), CD31 and CD34 was performed for assessment of cell proliferation and vascularization. TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labelling (TUNEL) technique was performed for apoptosis evaluation. Results: Celecoxib and the combined treatment (celecoxib and rosiglitazone) significantly reduced the mean number of lesions established per mouse and all treatments diminished the implant volume. In addition, cell proliferation within the implants was significantly reduced and apoptosis was significantly enhanced by all treatments. Also we found that all treatments diminished the vascularized area in the lesion. Conclusion: These results are promising and reveal that celecoxib and rosiglitazone, combined or separately, have a beneficial effect on overall endometriotic growth. Key words: endometriosis; COX-2 inhibitor; PPARgamma agonist; cell proliferation; apoptosis.