The role of Danazol on the adhesion of ectopic endometrial cells to peritoneum in mice

Objective To evaluate the effect of Danazol on ectopic endometrium of mouse model of endometriosis and to investigate the mechanism and action of it in the adhesion of ectopic endometrial cells to peritoneum. Methods Enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) transgenic and wide-type C57BL/6J mice were used to establish the mouse model(for control or Danazol group,n=20) of endometriosis.After that sodium chloride was given to the control(n=10) and blank(n=5) group,and Danazol was given to Danazol group(n=10) by gavage per day.Two weeks later all model mice were sacrificed and optical density of fluorescence of ectopic endometrium was calculated.The ectopic endometrium,uterus and ovaries were examined histologically and FCM analysis was performed to access cell apoptosis,Western blot and real time RT-PCR were performed to access the expression of CD44 and ICAM-1 in the ectopic endometrium. Results Under fluorescent microscope the green cake-like or punctiform ectopic endometrium were found between the intestines,under abdominal wall,hepatic lobules or spleen in the model mice of control and Danazol group.The volume and optical density of fluorescence of ectopic endometrium of the control group were significantly higher than that of Danazol group(P0.05).The cell apoptosis of Danazol and control group was significantly higher than that of blank group(P0.001),and the cell apoptosis of Danazol group was also higher than the control group(P0.01).The expression of CD44 and ICAM-1 in the control and Danazol group was lower than the control group(P0.05). Conclusions Danazol can exert growth-inhibitory effect on ectopic endometrium of model mice.This effect of Danazol might be from apoptosis-inducing to inhibited the expression of CD44 and ICAM-1.