Direct effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate, danazol, and leuprolide acetate on endometrial stromal cell proliferation in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the direct effects of three endometriosis chemotherapeutic agents (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA], danazol, and leuprolide acetate [LA]) on endometrial cell proliferation.


METHODS
Analysis of cell proliferation in vitro.


METHODS
Proliferative phase endometrial stromal cells isolated from biopsy specimens and grown in short-term culture served as a model for stromal components of endometriotic implants.


METHODS
Biopsies obtained from volunteers with regular cycles and without endometriosis or endometrial pathology.


METHODS
Medroxyprogesterone acetate, danazol, and LA were added to nutrient media with the following supplements: 2.5% calf serum (CS) only; 2.5% CS+estradiol (E2) 110 pmol/L; 2.5% CS+E2 550 pmol/L; 10% preovulatory serum (net E2 624 pmol/L).


METHODS
Cumulative [3H]-thymidine incorporation as a reflection of cell proliferation.


RESULTS
Medroxyprogesterone acetate and danazol exerted significant antiproliferative effects on stromal cell proliferation (P less than 0.05), effects that were enhanced by an absence of exogenous E2. Leuprolide acetate exerted no consistent effects.


CONCLUSIONS
These data imply that MPA and danazol but not LA exert direct effects, suppressing growth of endometriotic implants.
Surrey
E S
ES
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048.
Halme
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003613:Danazol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
D004247:DNA; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D016729:Leuprolide; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone; D003613:Danazol