Endometriosis is a chronic benign hormone-dependent condition when the endometrial tissue, identical with the endometrium by its morphological and functional properties, grows outside the borders of the uterine mucous membrane. Recent studies have pointed to the possible role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We suggested a hypothesis that increased expression of MMPs activity in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis might correlate with the presence of endometriotic lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in the ectopic endometrium of women with visible endometriotic lesions and eutopic endometrium in patients with no signs of endometriosis. The study was conducted on 43 patients. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 31 patients with peritoneal/ovarian endometriosis who had undergone laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Group 2 consisted of 12 patients with leiomyoma, endometrial polyps or relatively healthy patients who had undergone hysterectomy or polypectomy and endometrial curettage. This study showed statistically higher expression of MMP-2 (1.7783 ± 0.22 immunohistochemistry (IHC) optical density score compared to the control group – 1.41± 0.34, p = 0.0017) and MMP-9 (1.352 ± 0.067 versus 1.85 ± 0.26 in the control group, p = 0.001) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium samples from patients with endometriosis compared to samples taken from patients without endometriosis. A strong correlation between expression of the above-mentioned MMPs (r=0.74 for MMP-2 and r=0.88 for MMP-9) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium might be of promising diagnostic value.
A retrospective analysis of medical records of infertile patients using assisted reproductive technologies and melatonin was performed. 76 infertile women were examined. Group 1 included 33 patients who received 3 mg of melatonin two weeks before and during ovulation induction, and group 2 included 43 patients who did not take melatonin. The average age of patients in the groups did not differ. The data of gynecological and ultrasound examinations, structure and thickness of the endometrium, antral follicle count, hormone levels: anti-mullerian, follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, thyrotropin, and thyroxine were evaluated. The primary infertility incidence was significantly higher in all examined patients. Patients in the first group tended to decrease ovarian reserve, recurrent loss, and unexplained infertility; in the second group, more endometriosis, tubal and male infertility factors were observed. The incidence of extragenital pathology in the examined patients did not differ as well as antral follicle count and the thickness of the endometrium. We also did not find any significant difference in the level of hormones in the blood of the examined women, except that patients taking melatonin had significantly higher levels of lutropin but lower levels of the anti-mullerian hormone in the blood.
The pathogenetic theory of retrograde outflow of endometrial cells into the peritoneal cavity at endometriosis is gaining an increasing support. Adequate blood supply and angioneogenesis play an important role in successful implantation and occurrence of ectopic foci. VEGF plays an important role in this process. Determination of the pathways affecting the activity of this factor seems to be promising in terms of its effect produced on the early pathogenetic links of endometriosis. OBJECTIVES: to determine the effectiveness of dopamine agonist cabergoline and highly selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in an experimental model of external genital endometriosis in rats. METHODS. 83 outbred white female rats of Rattus Norvegicus Wistar were involved in the experiment. Experimental induction of endometriosis was performed by surgery and implantation of the autologous uterine fragments. The type and volume of experimental endometriosis lesions on the peritoneum of experimental animals were evaluated macroscopically as well as their hystologic examination were performed. RESULTS. Administration of a dopamine receptor agonist as a VEGF inhibitor separately was found to produce a pronounced inhibitory effect on ectopic endometrioid formation. However, the use of a dopamine receptor agonist in combination with a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor does not lead to potentiation or summation of their effects. At the same time, the use of COX-2 inhibitor alone has shown significantly lower efficacy than using the dopamine receptor agonist as a VEGF inhibitor. CONCLUSION. At experimental endometriosis in rats, dopamine agonists and highly selective COX-2 inhibitors were found to be one of VEGF inhibitors available.
Objective was to investigate the level of melatonin in the blood and follicular fluid in women treated with infertility by ART method and evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in their preparation for programs.Material and methods. 89 women were examined. The first (control) group included 13 healthy women oocyte donors who gave birth to their own healthy children, the second group - 33 women with infertility, who two weeks before and during ovulation stimulation were taken simultaneously at the same time before bedtime 3 mg of the drug "Vita-melatonin" produced by "Kyiv Vitamin Plant", the third group - 43 women with infertility who did not take the drug melatonin during ovulation stimulation. ELISA (Germany) reagent kits were used to determine melatonin levels. Melatonin levels were determined in blood plasma, and follicular fluid obtained during the puncture at 9:00 am.Results. The level of melatonin in the blood of female donor oocytes was 130.85 ± 16.91 pg/ml. This rate in the blood of women who used the drug melatonin before and during ovulation stimulation was significantly higher than in the blood of women who did not take the drug (respectively, 143.06 ± 14.87 pg/ml and 123.40 ± 12.65 pg / ml, p <0.05), and in the follicular fluid there was an inverse relationship: the level of melatonin in women of the first group was 97.15 ± 8.69 pg / ml, the second group - 39.46 ± 4.52 pg/ml, which is significantly less (p <0.05), the third group - 62.34 ± 3.94 pg / ml, which is almost twice more (p <0.05) compared with women who took melatonin, but less (p <0.05) compared with the first group. The frequency of pregnancy on transfer in patients of the first group was 80.0 ± 11.01%, in women of the second group probably less - 60.6 ± 8.25% (p <0.05), but also probably higher compared to women in the third group - 45.0 ± 7.62% (p <0.05). A similar pattern was observed by us on the onset of pregnancy in general: in the first group - 100.0%, in the second - 68.9 ± 8.05% (p <0.05), in the third - 60.5 ± 7.47% (p> 0.05).Conclusions. The low level of melatonin in the follicular fluid obtained by us in women who underwent ovulation stimulation in ART programs in the treatment of infertility requires further scientific interpretation. At the same time, the best results of pregnancy in women in ART programs who took melatonin in preparation are encouraging.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.