Metformin regresses endometriotic implants in rats by improving implant levels of superoxide dismutase, vascular endothelial growth factor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to test if metformin could regress endometriotic explants in rats.


METHODS
After inducing endometriotic implants and randomization of female Wistar albino rats, they were given 25 and 50 mg/kg/day of oral metformin in group A (n = 9) and B (n = 8), respectively, for 28 days. Group C (n = 9) was given saline as placebo.


RESULTS
Mean volume, weight, and histologic score of implants in groups A (P < .01, P < .05, and P < .05, respectively) and B (P < .01, P < .05, and P < .05, respectively) were significantly lower than in group C. The activity of superoxide dismutase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 staining in groups A (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively) and B (P < .01 and P < .01, respectively) was significantly higher than in the control group. Moreover, there were more significant reductions in implant levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in groups A (both P < .001) and B (both P < .001) than in group C.


CONCLUSIONS
Metformin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats.
Yilmaz
Bulent
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drbulentyilmaz@yahoo.com
Sucak
Ayhan
A
Kilic
Sevtap
S
Aksakal
Orhan
O
Aksoy
Yasemin
Y
Lortlar
Nese
N
Sut
Necdet
N
Gungor
Tayfun
T
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007813:Laparotomy; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D008687:Metformin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9