title: High-dose atorvastatin causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective randomized-controlled animal study was designed to determine the effects of atorvastatin on experimentally induced endometriosis in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven Wistar-Albino rats in which endometriotic implants were induced were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (Low-dose atorvastatin group, eight rats) were given 0.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group II (High-dose atorvastatin group, 10 rats) were given 2.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group III were given a single dose of 1 mg kg(-1) s.c. leuprolide acetate (GnRH agonist group, nine rats). Group IV were given no medication and served as controls (10 rats). All rats received the treatment for 21 days and were then euthanized to assess the implants' size, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in peritoneal fluid and histological score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the treatment, the mean areas of implants were smaller and VEGF levels in peritoneal fluid were lower in Groups II and III than those in Group I and the control group (all P < 0.05). The mean areas of implants decreased from 41.2 +/- 13.9 to 22.7 +/- 13.9 mm(2) after medication in Group II and decreased from 41.2 +/- 18.1 to 13.1 +/- 13.8 mm(2) in Group III (both P < 0.05), whereas in Group I, the mean area increased from 43.0 +/- 12.7 to 50.5 +/- 13.9 mm(2) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose atorvastatin caused a significant regression of endometriotic implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. mesutoktem@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esinler
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.forename: Nihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haberal
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
authors.forename: Hulusi B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zeyneloglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D016729:Leuprolide