Effects of thalidomide combined with gestrinone on angiogenesis in a rat endometriosis model

AIM To investigate the effects of thalidomide and gestrinone on angiogenesis of endometriosis(EMs) model rats.METHODS Twenty-four SD rats of EMs model were divided randomly into 4 groups:model control,thalidomide(20 mg·kg-1·d-1),gestrinone(0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1),and combination(thalidomide 20 mg· kg-1·d-1 and gestrinone 0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1) group.Drugs were dissolved in normal saline and administrated by ip.Model control group was given normal saline 2 mL for each rat.After the 4-week administration,rats were killed and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in ectopic endometrium were detected by immunohistochemical streptavidin-perosidase technique,and micro-vessel density(MVD) was determined by immunostaining for factor ⅧAg antibody.RESULTS The MVD and the expression of VEGF and TNF-α in thalidomide,gestrinone,and combination group were significantly lower than that of model control group(P 0.01),and MVD and expression of VEGF in combination group decreased significantly than that of thalidomide group and gestrinone group(P 0.05),while the expression of TNF-α showed no difference between the gestrinone group and the combination group(P 0.05) .CONCLUSION Thalidomide and gestrinone inhibit MVD and the expressions of VEGF and TNF-α in rat ectopic endometrium so as to play an antiangiogenic effect in rat EMs.Thalidomide in combination with gestrinone can enhance the inhibitory effect on angiogenesis of EMs model rats.