[Inhibition effect and mechanism of artemisnin on surgically induced endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of artemisnin on surgically induced endometriosis in rat model and the possible mechanism related to cellular apoptosis and microvascular angiogenesis. METHODS: Surgically induced endometriosis model was established with female rats, and then the rats were divided into four groups: high dose artemisinin [300 mg/(kg x d)), low dose artemisinin [150 mg/(kg x d)], danazol [160 mg/(kg x d)] and solvent control group After daily administration of the above agents for 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, then the implant size of ectopic endometrium was measured and appotosis index (AI), Bcl-2 and MVD in ectopic endometrium were evaluated with S-P immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with solvent control, both artemisinin (high and low quality) and danazol decrease the size of implants significantly (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among the three treatment groups. AI of the three treatment groups increased significantly, while Bcl-2 and MVD decreased significantly (P < 0.05). AI of both artemisinin groups were significantly higher than that of danazol group, but Bcl-2 level was lower. CONCLUSION: Artemisnin inhibits surgically induced endometriosis in rats, and the possible mechanism may be related to stimulatation of cellular apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis.