title: Time-related effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment in experimentally induced endometriosis in the rat.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to characterize the time-dependent effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a) therapy on endometriosis explant using the rat model. Endometriosis was induced in 60 mature female rats. One group of treated animals as well as controls were killed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment at which time the explant was evaluated. Explant volume was significantly reduced in all treatment groups, an effect that was more significant in animals treated for greater than or equal to 4 weeks compared with those treated for only 2 weeks. We conclude that GnRH-a treatment caused gradual regression of endometrial explant that was effectively complete by 4 weeks of treatment. We further conclude that this experimental model may be useful in the evaluation of other modes of endometriosis therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Zanagnolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Schlaff
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Damewood
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bobbie
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rock
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C019176:Tryptal