title: Development of a subcutaneous endometriosis rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a rat model of subcutaneous endometriosis for the study of pathophysiology and the effects of drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty three-month-old female Wistar rats (Rattus norvergicus) were distributed into one control group and four treatment groups: estradiol (2.5; 5; 10 mg/kg s.c.), medroxyprogesterone acetate (0.5; 2; 5 mg/kg s.c.), triptorelin pamoate (0.18; 0.56 mg/kg s.c.) and acetylsalicylic acid (3 mg/kg per os). The animals were autoimplanted subcutaneously with 4x4-mm uterine fragments to induce endometriosis. The endometriomas were measured on days 1, 7, 14 and 21. The relative dry and wet weights of the endometrioma were used to evaluate response to the drug. Endometrial-like tissue was confirmed by histology. The greatest weight gain was observed on day 14 (relative wet weight: 29.1 ± 6.7 mg%, relative dry weight: 5.3 ± 0.9 mg %). Treatments were administered between day 5 and day 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative wet weight of the hemiuterus in the 10 mg/kg estradiol group differed significantly from control and the other two estradiol groups (p=0.0001). In the medroxyprogesterone acetate group the weight decreased significantly but this decrease was not dose-dependent. Weight reduction was also significant in the triptorelin pamoate and the acetylsalicylic acid groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model of subcutaneous endometriosis is reproducible, low-cost and easy to perform, and suitable for the study of pathophysiology and the effects of drugs.
authors: Department of Surgery, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Francisco Edson Ximenes Gomes
authors: FE
authors: Pereira
authors: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Paulo Roberto Carvalho de
authors: PR
authors: Almeida
authors: UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Bruno Hállan Meneses
authors: BH
authors: Dias
authors: Department of Surgery, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Paulo Roberto Leitão de
authors: PR
authors: Vasconcelos
authors: Department of Surgery, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Sérgio Botelho
authors: SB
authors: Guimarães
authors: Department of Maternal and Child Health, UFC, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Francisco das Chagas
authors: Fd
authors: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue; D013997:Time Factors; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D004967:Estrogens; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D004958:Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D001241:Aspirin