Assessment of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Evolution in Different Stages of an Experimental Endometriosis

Endometriosis is described as a gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus; extensively explored because of its increasing incidency, with an indubitable diagnostic only after invasive surgery, with no efficient treatment, it has still many aspects to be elucidated. A growing body of facts sustain oxidative stress as a crucial factor between the numerous incriminated factors implicated in endometriosis ethiopathogeny. Reactive oxygen species(ROS) act to decline reproductive function. Our study intends to determine if an experimental model of endometriosis may be useful to assess the impact of oxidative stress on endometrial cells; we have used a murine model of 18 adult Wistar female rats. A fragment from their left uterine horn was implanted in the abdominal wall. After 4 weeks, a laparatomy was performed, 5 endometrial implants were removed, followed by biochemical tissue assay of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT). At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed, the implants were removed for histopathological exam and biochemical assay of antioxidant enzymes. The results revealed decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes, pointing on significant oxidative stress involvement.