Abstract
Research question
Can cannabidiol (CBD) be used in the treatment of endometriosis for its anti-inflammatory,
antioxidative and antiangiogenic effects?
Design
Endometrial implants were surgically induced in 36 female Wistar albino rats. After
confirmation of endometriotic foci, the rats were randomized into four groups. In
the leuprolide acetate group, rats were given a single 1 mg/kg s.c. leuprolide acetate
injection. The other groups were 5 mg/kg CBD (CBD5), saline solution and 20 mg/kg
CBD (CBD20); daily i.p. injections were administered for 7 days. After 21 days, the
rats were euthanised, and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS),
oxidative stress index (OSI), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-α) measurements in blood and peritoneal fluid samples, and immunohistochemical
staining for TNF-α, IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of endometriotic
tissues were evaluated.
Results
Significant reductions in the endometriotic implant surface area (P = 0.0213), serum TOS (P = 0.0491), OSI (P = 0.0056), IL-6 (P = 0.0236), TNF-α (P = 0.0083) and peritoneal fluid OSI (P = 0.0401), IL-6 (P = 0.0205) and TNF-α (P = 0.0045) concentrations were observed in the CBD5 group when compared with the saline
solution group. Compared with the saline solution group, increased TAS concentrations
in serum (P = 0.0012) and peritoneal fluid (P = 0.0145) were found in the CBD5 group. The CBD5 and leuprolide acetate groups were
similar regarding inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters of serum and peritoneal
fluid samples. The CBD5 group showed significantly lower mean intensity in both surface
epithelium and stromal cells for VEGF (both P = 0.002) and only in surface epithelium cells for IL-6 (P = 0.0108), when compared with the leuprolide acetate group.
Conclusion
Due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antiangiogenic effects, CBD might
be a therapeutic agent candidate for endometriosis.
Keywords
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Biography
Berkem Okten, MD, completed his Ob/Gyn residency at Trakya University. He then completed his education in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) at Istanbul Memorial Hospital, ART and Genetics Center. His main fields of scientific interest are ART, infertility and endometriosis. He is currently working at Acibadem Kozyatagi Hospital, IVF Center, Istanbul.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 30, 2023
Accepted:
January 24,
2023
Received in revised form:
December 29,
2022
Received:
November 7,
2022
Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
