CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Endometriosis (EDT) is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age. Medical therapies are aimed at down-regulating the ovarian estrogen production using GnRH agonists, progestins, androgenic agents or oral contraceptives. However, side effects limit their long-term use. Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of 2 natural compounds in vivo, in a murine model of EDT: epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), which constitutes approximately 60% of the catechins in green tea, and resveratrol (Res), a phytoalexin found naturally in grapes, peanuts, blueberries and many other plants. Both polyphenols has been related to antiangiogenic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. Methods: EDT was surgically induced to 60 female BALB/c mice of 2 months age. After 15 days, 10 animals were randomly assigned per group and treatments were initiated: Res I (10mg/kg); Res II (25mg/kg); Control (Res vehicle); EGCG I (20mg/kg); EGCG II (100mg/kg); Control (EGCG vehicle). Res was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection and EGCG by esophageal gavage. After 1 month of treatment, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Then peritoneal fluid was collected and endometrioric-like lesions were counted, measured and removed. Paraffin sections were used to assess apoptosis and cellular proliferation levels by Terminal Deoxynucleotidil Transferase-Mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry for Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) respectively. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were evaluated in the peritoneal fluid by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Statistical comparisons were performed using Kruskal?Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance test and Dunn?s multiple comparison post-test. Results: Both doses of EGCG were able to reduced the number of developed lesions (p