title: Local application of danazol-loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel to endometriosis in a rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a drug delivery system composed of danazol-loaded hyaluronic acid for local application to endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research unit of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Danazol-loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel (DZ-HA gel) was injected into the rat endometriosis model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Size and histological changes in experimental endometriosis, the concentration of danazol in the cyst wall and plasma, and estrous cycles were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histologically, DZ-HA gel-treated cysts displayed marked atrophy of the endometrial epithelium. Increased numbers of apoptotic cells and decreased numbers of proliferative cells were noted with 10 mg/mL DZ-HA gel. Size of treated cysts decreased to approximately 60% at 9 weeks after injection. The estrous cycles were not disturbed during DZ-HA gel treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local injection of DZ-HA gel achieved endometrial atrophy of an experimental model of endometriosis without disturbing the sexual cycle. These results suggest that local application of DZ using this drug delivery system may prove useful for treating endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. kazzy@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Makio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shozu
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakama
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yui
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003613:Danazol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D020100:Hydrogels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003613:Danazol