Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
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Patterns of proliferation and fibrosis in a rat model of endometriosis following administration of Allium cepa

  • Hakan Kula (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylul University) ;
  • Orkun Ilgen (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylul University) ;
  • Sefa Kurt (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylul University) ;
  • Filiz Yilmaz (Department of Histology and Embryology, Hitit University)
  • Received : 2023.06.08
  • Accepted : 2023.11.14
  • Published : 2024.06.30
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Abstract

Objective: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease among reproductive-age women. Numerous hypotheses exist regarding the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In Turkey, the consumption of Allium cepa (commonly known as the "onion cure") is a popular treatment employed to alleviate a variety of gynecological disorders. Methods: In this study, our objective was to assess the therapeutic mechanisms of the onion bulb A. cepa using an autologous endometriosis model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Previous research has shown that A. cepa possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties. We evaluated the pathological condition of endometriotic implants by employing hematoxylin-eosin staining and Ki67 immunohistochemistry analysis. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) have been identified as profibrotic markers that are highly overexpressed in endometriotic tissues relative to eutopic endometrial tissue. Furthermore, TGF-β1 influences the differentiation and progression of endometriosis. To quantify profibrotic activity, we measured TGF-β1 and α-SMA using the immunosorbent assay method. Results: Lower histologic evaluation scores for endometriotic implants were observed in the group receiving high-dose A. cepa relative to the other groups. Ki67 expression was reduced following the high-dose A. cepa regimen, which consisted of 30% A. cepa and 70% normal feed. However, no statistically significant differences in TGF-β1 or α-SMA levels were observed among the groups (p=0.7 and p=0.778, respectively). Conclusion: The findings suggest that A. cepa could serve as a therapeutic agent in endometriosis treatment, as evidenced by the reduction in proliferative potential. Nevertheless, A. cepa was not associated with significantly lower levels of endometriosis-associated TGF-β1 or α-SMA.

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References

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