Authors
Dilu Feng, M.D., Michael D. Menger, M.D., Matthias W. Laschke, M.D., Ph.D.
Volume 100, Issue 5, Pages 1459-1467.e1, November 2013
Abstract
Objective:
To study the effect of combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) on the vascularization of endometriotic lesions.
Design:
Intravital microscopic, histologic, and immunohistochemical study.
Setting:
University institute.
Animal(s):
BALB/c mice.
Intervention(s):
Murine endometriotic lesions were induced by syngeneic transplantation of endometrium into dorsal skinfold chambers. After 6 days, the mice received an intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg CA4P or vehicle.
Main Outcome Measure(s):
Vascularization of the lesions and the surrounding tissue was analyzed by intravital fluorescence microscopy over 8 days. Lesion morphology, vessel maturation, viability, and proliferation of endometrial glands and stroma were assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry.
Result(s):
All lesions were initially well vascularized, containing immature and mature microvessels. Injection of CA4P induced a selective vessel collapse in the lesions without affecting the surrounding microvasculature. This resulted in a decreased functional capillary density and blood perfusion of CA4P-treated lesions after 2 hours when compared with controls. However, the vascularization of the lesions progressively normalized, and their numbers of proliferating and apoptotic cells did not differ from those of controls.
Conclusion(s):
This study demonstrates a selective vascular disrupting effect of CA4P on endometriotic lesions, indicating that vascular disrupting agents may be suitable for endometriosis therapy.
Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(13)02746-5/fulltext
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