Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis

Zhang Y, Ying Zhang, Chang-Jun Zhang, Cao H, Hong Cao, Hu YY, Yue-Yue Hu, Wang H, Hua Wang, Zhang CJ
International journal of molecular medicine · 2010 · vol. 27(1) , pp. 87–94 · doi:10.3892/ijmm.2010.552 · PMID:21069258 · W2036128185
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Curcumin administration to rats with experimental endometriosis dose-dependently reduced ectopic endometrial lesion size, microvessel density, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

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This paper examined whether curcumin inhibits angiogenesis in a rat model of experimental endometriosis by measuring VEGF expression and microvessel density (MVD) in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Forty-eight female virgin rats underwent endometrial autotransplantation during estrus, were then treated for four weeks with intragastric curcumin at 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg or vehicle alone, and were assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry for MVD. The model group showed increased ectopic MVD and VEGF, while curcumin decreased ectopic microvessels and VEGF protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, with a positive correlation between MVD and VEGF; the paper also reports heterogeneity between eutopic and ectopic tissue in these measures. This paper is centrally about endometriosis—specifically, curcumin’s inhibitory effects on VEGF-driven angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium in an experimental rat model.

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to observe the inhibitory effect of curcumin on endometriosis (EMS) and to determine its influence on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of experimental rats, thus exploring the pathogenesis of EMS offering more experimental evidence for the clinical use of curcumin. Forty-eight female virgin rats were subjected to autotransplantation of endometrium during the estrus stage. After four weeks, 8 rats were randomly sacrificed to confirm that the rat model was successful. The remaining rats were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were intragastrically administered curcumin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), and the model group was intragastrically administered vehicle alone. All rats were treated daily for four continuous weeks and examined by histology and immunohistochemical staining for MVD of eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Our results revealed that the cubic capacity of focal tissue in gross appearance was high in the model group and dose-dependently diminished after treatment with curcumin (P<0.05). There was an increase in MVD and VEGF in the ectopic endometrium, which was decreased significantly after treatment with curcumin (P<0.05); the effects being dose-dependent. The correlation between MVD and VEGF was positive. In conclusion, heterogeneity was found to exist between eutopic and ectopic endometrium due to differences noted in MVD and the expression of VEGF between the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in the model group. Curcumin decreased the quantity of microvessels and VEGF protein expression in the heterotopic endometrium of rats with EMS.
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Print ISSN: 1107-3756 Online ISSN: 1791-244X International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease. International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment. Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery. Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine. Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology. Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology. International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis. Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology. Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition. Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease. An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine. Article - Authors: - Pages: 87-94|Published online on: November 8, 2010https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2010.552 - Expand metrics + The aim of this study was to observe the inhibitory effect of curcumin on endometriosis (EMS) and to determine its influence on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of experimental rats, thus exploring the pathogenesis of EMS offering more experimental evidence for the clinical use of curcumin. Forty-eight female virgin rats were subjected to autotransplantation of endometrium during the estrus stage. After four weeks, 8 rats were randomly sacrificed to confirm that the rat model was successful. The remaining rats were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were intragastrically administered curcumin (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), and the model group was intragastrically administered vehicle alone. All rats were treated daily for four continuous weeks and examined by histology and immunohistochemical staining for MVD of eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Our results revealed that the cubic capacity of focal tissue in gross appearance was high in the model group and dose-dependently diminished after treatment with curcumin (P<0.05). There was an increase in MVD and VEGF in the ectopic endometrium, which was decreased significantly after treatment with curcumin (P<0.05); the effects being dose-dependent. The correlation between MVD and VEGF was positive. In conclusion, heterogeneity was found to exist between eutopic and ectopic endometrium due to differences noted in MVD and the expression of VEGF between the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in the model group. Curcumin decreased the quantity of microvessels and VEGF protein expression in the heterotopic endometrium of rats with EMS. Copy and paste a formatted citation Spandidos Publications style Zhang Y, Cao H, Hu Y, Wang H and Zhang C: Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis Expression of Concern in /10.3892/ijmm.2026.5787. Int J Mol Med 27: 87-94, 2011. APA Zhang, Y., Cao, H., Hu, Y., Wang, H., & Zhang, C. (2011). Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis Expression of Concern in /10.3892/ijmm.2026.5787. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 27, 87-94. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2010.552 MLA Zhang, Y., Cao, H., Hu, Y., Wang, H., Zhang, C."Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis Expression of Concern in /10.3892/ijmm.2026.5787". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 27.1 (2011): 87-94. Chicago Zhang, Y., Cao, H., Hu, Y., Wang, H., Zhang, C."Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis Expression of Concern in /10.3892/ijmm.2026.5787". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 27, no. 1 (2011): 87-94. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2010.552

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Antineoplastic Agents Curcumin Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Neovascularization, Pathologic Animals Antineoplastic Agents Antineoplastic Agents Body Weight Curcumin Curcumin Curcumin Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans

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