Immunomodulation in the treatment of endometriosis-associated subfertility: use of pentoxifylline to reverse the inhibition of fertilization by surgically induced endometriosis in a rodent model.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of pentoxifylline on early reproductive performance in an animal model for endometriosis.


METHODS
Preclinical blinded study in a rodent model.


METHODS
Animal research laboratory.


METHODS
Sexually mature female golden hamsters.


METHODS
At laparotomy, groups of hamsters were subjected to: (1) excision of the right uterine horn and (2) excision of the right uterine horn with explantation of four 2-cm2 uterine fragments onto the left uterine mesentery. Six weeks later, surgically treated hamsters and nonsurgically treated controls were subjected to ovulation induction with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin; subsequently, hamsters were divided into groups for periovulatory treatment with either pentoxifylline (2.5 mg/kg) or vehicle given subcutaneously every 8 hours. All hamsters were mated with proven males and killed after 48 hours.


METHODS
Numbers of unfertilized oocytes and embryos recovered from the left uterine horn at 48 hours after mating.


RESULTS
Fertilization rates in surgical and nonsurgical control groups exceeded 90%. Fertilization was significantly impaired in saline-treated animals bearing uterine explants (mean of 2.3% +/- 1.9%). Administration of pentoxifylline dramatically reversed this effect (99.0% +/- 0.7% mean fertilization rate).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that periovulatory treatment with pentoxifylline abrogated the adverse influence of endometrial explants on fertilization in the rodent model. Periovulatory administration of nonteratogenic immunomodulatory agents may provide an alternative to conventional treatment for endometriosis.
Steinleitner
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida.
Lambert
H
H
Suarez
M
M
Serpa
N
N
Roy
S
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010431:Pentoxifylline