{"paper_id":"85c4b8a4-6f55-4932-8e7c-7cbfadd3f9a2","body_text":"Abstract\nObjective\nTo determine the effects of etanercept (anti-TNF-α) on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model.\nMaterials and methods\nThis is a prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental study that was carried out at the Experimental Research Center of Yeditepe University (YUDETAM). Thirty female nonpregnant, nulligravid Wistar-Hannover albino rats were used. The summary of the technique: surgical induction of endometriosis, administration of estrogen for 2 weeks, and laparotomy; administration of etanercept for 2 weeks following the induction of endometriosis and laparotomy; administration of estrogen for 2 weeks and necropsy. The volume and histopathological scores of the endometriotic foci were evaluated.\nResults\nOne-hundred twenty uterine horns were implanted in 30 rats. Endometriosis was completely formatted in 112 lesions (93.3%). No rats were lost. In the etanercept group, the lesions’ volumes were 83.9 ± 13.1, 47.2 ± 8.4, and 96.7 ± 34.8 mm3 at the end of the second week (pretreatment stage), at the end of the fourth week (post-treatment stage), and at the end of the sixth week, respectively (P = 0.007). Histopathologic scores were 2.3 ± 0.2, 1.7 ± 0.2, and 1.9 ± 0.1, respectively (P = 0.08). The changes in the other groups were not statistically significant.\nConclusions\nEtanercept, a fusion protein consisting of human recombinant soluble TNF receptor-2, neutralizes TNF activity. Anti-TNF therapy could be a new non-hormonal therapeutic option for the treatment of endometriosis in humans.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nOral E, Arici A (1997) Pathogenesis of endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 24(2):219–233\nNezhat F, Shamshirsaz AA, Yildirim G (2009) Pelvic pain, endometriosis, and the role of the gynecologist. 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Fertil Steril 90(2):401–405\nAcknowledgment\nWe thank Russell Fraser for checking the English of the manuscript.\nConflict of interest statement\nNo conflict of interest or financial support to declare.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding author\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nYildirim, G., Attar, R., Ficicioglu, C. et al. Etanercept causes regression of endometriotic implants in a rat model. Arch Gynecol Obstet 283, 1297–1302 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1543-9\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1543-9","source_license":"public-domain-us","license_restricted":false}