Estrogen-independent inhibition of curcumin on formation of endometriotic foci in rats with experimental endometriosis

Objective To observe the potential role of curcumin in controlling the development of endometriotic foci in rats with experimental endometriosis and determine whether it interfere with the serous estrogen level.Methods Model endometriosis was established successfully in 30 female SD rats.These 30rats were randomly divided into three groups,with curcumin(150mg/Kg/d,curcumin group),gestrinone(0.5mg/kg/d,gestrinone group) and normal saline(3ml/d,model group) intragastrically administered for three continuous weeks,respectively.Sham operation was performed in another 10 female SD rats of same age as sham control(sham group).The volume and weight of ectopic endometrium were measured,estrogen level in serum was detected.Microvessel density(MVD) in eutopic(sham group) and ectopic endometrium(the other three groups)was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.Results Four weeks after administration,significantly reduced volume and weight of endometriotic foci was observed in curcumin and gestrinone groups,as compared with model group,and no significant difference was found between curcumin and gestrinone group(P0.05).Serum E2 level in gestrinone group was decreased significantly compared with model group(P=0.005),and no difference was detected in curcumin group as compared with model and sham group.Both curcumin(P=0.004) and gestrinone groups(P=0.016) present with decreased MVD in ectopic endometrium as compared with model group.Conclusions Our results reveals that curcumin could inhibit the development of endometriotic foci through interfering angiogenesis while without any effect on the serum E2 level in rat models.