Clotrimazole reduces endometriosis and the estrogen concentration by downregulating aromatase

Daniel Escorsim Machado, Jéssica Alessandra-Perini, Erika Menezes de Mendonça, Marllow Caetano Claudino, Luiz Eurico Nasciutti, Mauro Sola-Penna, Mauro Sola‐Penna, Patrícia Zancan, Jamila Alessandra Perini
Reproduction (Cambridge, England) · 2020 · vol. 159(6) , pp. 779–786 · doi:10.1530/rep-19-0502 · PMID:32240980 · W3014923425
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Clotrimazole treatment in rats reduced endometriosis lesion size, serum estrogen, and expression of aromatase and estrogen receptor alpha, indicating it interferes with estrogen production and disease progression.

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Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the effects of clotrimazole (CTZ) on estrogen production pathway in endometriosis progression. Experimental endometriosis was induced by autologous transplantation in female Wistar rats, and then the rats were treated with clotrimazole (200 mg/kg) or vehicle, both orally and intraperitoneally, for 15 consecutive days. Serum estrogen levels and vaginal smear analyses were performed and ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) and CYP19 (cytochrome P450 aromatase) levels in the endometriotic lesions were analysed morphologically and immunohistochemically. The clotrimazole group presented a reduction in serum estrogen levels, which were not influenced by the estrous cycle of the animals. The expression of ERα and CYP19 in endometriotic lesions was also reduced in the clotrimazole group compared to the control group. Moreover, clotrimazole treatment decreased the size of the lesions, as confirmed by histological examination, which showed glandular atrophy for both routes of administration. These results suggest that clotrimazole interferes with the estrogen production pathway by downregulating CYP19 and, therefore, reducing serum estrogen levels. Thus, the drug decreases endometriotic lesion size and consequently disease progression.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Aromatase Clotrimazole Down-Regulation Endometriosis Endometrium Estrogens Animals Aromatase Clotrimazole Clotrimazole Disease Models, Animal Down-Regulation Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogens Estrous Cycle

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