High-dose atorvastatin causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model

Mesut Oktem, Mesut Öktem, Ibrahim Esinler, Derya Eroglu, Derya Eroğlu, Nihan Haberal, Nilufer Bayraktar, Nilüfer Bayraktar, Hulusi B Zeyneloglu, Hulusi Bülent Zeyneloğlu
Human Reproduction · 2007 · vol. 22(5) , pp. 1474–1480 · doi:10.1093/humrep/del505 · PMID:17234677 · W2117630250
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High-dose atorvastatin (2.5 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced endometriotic implant size and peritoneal fluid VEGF levels in a rat model compared to low-dose atorvastatin and controls.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized-controlled animal study was designed to determine the effects of atorvastatin on experimentally induced endometriosis in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty-seven Wistar-Albino rats in which endometriotic implants were induced were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (Low-dose atorvastatin group, eight rats) were given 0.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group II (High-dose atorvastatin group, 10 rats) were given 2.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group III were given a single dose of 1 mg kg(-1) s.c. leuprolide acetate (GnRH agonist group, nine rats). Group IV were given no medication and served as controls (10 rats). All rats received the treatment for 21 days and were then euthanized to assess the implants' size, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in peritoneal fluid and histological score. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, the mean areas of implants were smaller and VEGF levels in peritoneal fluid were lower in Groups II and III than those in Group I and the control group (all P < 0.05). The mean areas of implants decreased from 41.2 +/- 13.9 to 22.7 +/- 13.9 mm(2) after medication in Group II and decreased from 41.2 +/- 18.1 to 13.1 +/- 13.8 mm(2) in Group III (both P < 0.05), whereas in Group I, the mean area increased from 43.0 +/- 12.7 to 50.5 +/- 13.9 mm(2) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose atorvastatin caused a significant regression of endometriotic implants.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Heptanoic Acids Pyrroles Animals Atorvastatin Disease Models, Animal Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Heptanoic Acids Leuprolide Leuprolide Pyrroles Rats Rats, Wistar Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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