title: Is montelukast effective in regression of endometrial implants in an experimentally induced endometriosis model in rats?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Montelukast, a selective antagonist of Type 1 cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (CysLT1Rs), antagonizes the proinflammatory and proasthmatic activities of CysLT1Rs. We investigated the effect of montelukast on a surgically induced endometriosis rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two sexually mature, cycling, female Wistar-Albino rats, in which endometriotic implants were surgically induced, were randomly divided into three groups. Group I [Montelukast (M), 10 rats)] was given 1.6 mg/kg/day of oral montelukast sodium. Group II [Leuprolide acetate (L), 11 rats] was given 1 mg/kg single dose of s.c.leuprolide acetate. Group III [Control (C), 11 rats] received saline solution through an orogastric tube and served as controls. After a 3-weeks medication, the rats were sacrificed to investigate the endometriotic implants for size and morphological and histological characteristics, including immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and VEGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean area of implants decreased from 48.2 ± 24.7 to 29.3 ± 15.8mm(2) in Group I (M) (P = 0.008) and from 62 ± 32.1 to 39.9 ± 18.1mm(2) in Group II (L) (P=0.003). In Group III (C), the mean area increased from 41.1 ± 31.1 to 60.4 ± 37.1mm(2) (P = 0.025). Histopathological analysis showed statistically significant lower scores in rats treated with montelukast compared to leuprolide and controls. MMP H scores were not different between the groups in both epithelial and stromal MMP-2 immunostaining. VEGF H scores were statistically lower in Group 1 (M) in epithelial VEGF immunostaining when compared to Group II (L) and Group III (C) (P=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Montelukast may effectively cause a significant decrease in the area of endometriotic implants.
authors.affiliation: Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: sadimanaltin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sadiman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiykac Altinbas
authors.affiliation: Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Lutfi
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Tapisiz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavkaytar
authors.affiliation: Kecioren Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulcin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University School of Medicine, Department of Biology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oguztuzun
authors.affiliation: Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Goktolga
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013440:Sulfides; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D016729:Leuprolide; C093875:montelukast
keywords: Endometriosis; MMP-2; Montelukast; Rat; VEGF