title: Comparison of efficacy of bromocriptine and cabergoline to GnRH agonist in a rat endometriosis model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of dopamine agonists in a surgically induced endometriosis model on rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective randomized experimental study, surgical induction of endometriosis was performed by autotransplantation technique on 52 adult female Wistar-Albino rats. Endometriosis formation was confirmed by a second-look laparotomy (n:48) 1 month later. Four study groups were randomly generated according to their treatment regimens: group 1 (leuprolide acetate, n = 12), group 2 (bromocriptine, n = 12), group 3 (cabergoline, n = 12) and group 4 (control, n = 12). Endometriotic implants were excised for histopathological examination after treatment at the setting of laparotomy. The mean surface areas and histopathological glandular tissue (GT) and stromal tissue (ST) scores of endometriotic implants were studied and compared among groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 30 days of treatment, the mean surface area of the endometriotic implants of leuprolide acetate, bromocriptine and cabergoline groups was significantly decreased. The regression of endometriotic foci size in comparison to control was highest in group 1, followed by group 2, then group 3. In the histopathological evaluation both the ST and GT scores of group 1, 2 and 3 were significantly decreased in comparison to controls without a statistically significant difference between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dopamine agonists are as effective as GnRH agonists in the regression of experimental endometriotic implants in rats. Further trials are needed to elucidate the pathways affected by dopamine agonists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, 06018, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cihangir Mutlu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kayaalp
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yumusak
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ergun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077465:Cabergoline; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D004873:Ergolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001971:Bromocriptine; D016729:Leuprolide; D000077465:Cabergoline; C066438:deslorelin