Efficacy of levamisole on experimental endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of levamisole on experimental endometriosis.


METHODS
After the implantation of endometrial tissue on abdominal peritoneum, 40 rats were randomized to 1 of 4 equal intervention groups. Levamisole (2 mg/rat) was applied subcutaneously to group "L" once a week. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (3 mg/kg) was applied intramuscularly to group "M" twice at 4-week intervals. Leuprolide (0.075 mg/kg) was applied subcutaneously to group "G" twice at 4-week intervals. Saline (0.1 cm(3)/rat) was applied subcutaneously to group "C" once a week for 8 weeks. The efficacy of levamisole was determined by volume measurement and characterizing the histological structure of the implants.


RESULTS
Volume increase of the implants in group C (P<0.05), and volume decrease in groups M, G, and L was found (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively.) Stromal tissue and glandular activity were not different between groups L and G.


CONCLUSIONS
Levamisole was found to be as effective as leuprolide in regression of the volume of endometriotic implants.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey.
G
G
Ocal
A
A
Kokcu
M B
MB
Cetinkaya
M
M
Tosun
M
M
Kefeli
B
B
Kandemir
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007978:Levamisole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007978:Levamisole; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D016729:Leuprolide