Effect of a high potent gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonist nafarelin on experimentally induced endometriosis in rabbits

AIM To study effect of a high potent gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist nafarelin (Naf) on endometrial implants in rabbits. METHODS Endometriosis was surgically induced in New Zealand white rabbits in the first 4 wk. Then the animals were treated with Naf (1,3 or 10 μg·kg-1·d-1, sc), danazol (Dan 80 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig) or bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) for 6 wk. RESULTS In the last 6 wk, implants in control group continued to grow, while those in groups treated with Naf shrinked significantly, and the effects of Naf 3 and 10 μg·kg-1·d-1 were similar to that of OVX. Moreover, serum estradiol concentrations in those treated animals were also markedly reduced. CONCLUSION Chronic treatment with Naf results in atrophy of ectopic endometrial tissue, which is associated with its inducing a state of “medical oophorectomy”.