title: Effects of repeated propranolol administration in a rat model of surgically induced endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether propranolol has an inhibitory effect on the angiogenesis of endometriosis in an experimental rat model or not.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an experimental animal model study. Twenty-four female Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were used to create a model for surgical induction of endometriosis. Two rats died during the surgeries. The rats were randomly divided into treatment (n=11) and control groups (n=10), which were treated with daily intraperitoneal propranolol (10 mg/kg) and saline (2 mL), respectively. Study duration was 8 weeks. The volumes and histopathological findings of the implants, and immunochemistry for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viable endometriotic implants were created in all animals. In the propranolol-treated group, the mean implant volume significantly decreased after treatment (142.5 vs. 32.1 mm(3), respectively; p=0.008), while the mean implant volume significantly increased in the control group (141.0 vs. 174.2 mm(3), respectively; p=0.009). There were also significant reductions in VEGF immunoreactivity scores and both stroma and epithelium MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunoreactivity scores in the propranolol-treated group compared with the control group (p<0.005 for all scores).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propranolol may suppress endometrial tissue by its antiangiogenic activity through inhibitory actions on VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Therefore, propranolol is a promising candidate drug for effective treatment of patients with endometriosis, which needs to be confirmed with further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozlemuzunlars@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzunlar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaprak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Engin-Ustun
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moraloglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H Cavidan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gulerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caydere
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Senem M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mollamahmutoglu
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011433:Propranolol; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Angiogenesis; Endometriosis; Propranolol