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Melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating angiogenesis, tissue levels of antioxidants and matrix metalloproteinases

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to test if melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants and whether it influences implant levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in rats.

Methods

Endometriotic implants were introduced surgically to 20 female Wistar albino rats, which were either treated with melatonin via intraperitoneal injection for four weeks (melatonin group, n = 10) or with saline (control group, n = 10) after a second-look laparotomies. The main outcome measures included volume (mm3) and weight (mg) of explants and tissue levels of SOD, MDA, VEGF, TIMP-2 and MMP-9.

Results

Before and after treatment implant volumes of the melatonin group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01) while there was no significant difference between the pretreatment and posttreatment implant volumes of the control group. Moreover, weight (P < 0.05) and histologic score (P < 0.05) of implants of the melatonin-treated rats were significantly lower than controls. Activity of SOD and TIMP-2 staining in melatonin group was significantly higher (both P < 0.01) while there were significant reductions in implant levels of VEGF and MMP-9 in melatonin group (both P < 0.01) than controls.

Conclusions

Melatonin induces the regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating implant levels of SOD, MDA, VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-2.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey

    Bulent Yilmaz, Gonca Gul Tanrisever & Sefa Kelekci

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Yilmaz, Sevtap Kilic, Orhan Aksakal, Ibrahim Egemen Ertas & Tayfun Gungor

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Yasemin Aksoy

  4. Nanomedicine Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Nese Lortlar

  5. Basın Sitesi Mahallesi, 168 Sokak, 18/6, Karabaglar, 35600, Izmir, Turkey

    Bulent Yilmaz

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  1. Bulent Yilmaz
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  2. Sevtap Kilic
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Correspondence to Bulent Yilmaz.

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Yilmaz, B., Kilic, S., Aksakal, O. et al. Melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating angiogenesis, tissue levels of antioxidants and matrix metalloproteinases. Arch Gynecol Obstet 292, 209–216 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3599-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3599-4

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