Reproductive sciences
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Reproductive sciences · Jan 2011
Levo-tetrahydropalmatine retards the growth of ectopic endometrial implants and alleviates generalized hyperalgesia in experimentally induced endometriosis in rats.
One primary goal of medical treatment of endometriosis is to alleviate pain and there is a pressing need for new therapeutics for endometriosis with better efficacy and side-effect profiles. Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) has been used as a sedative or analgesic for chronic pains in China since 1970s. In this study, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of l-THP, with or without valproic acid (VPA), in a rat model of endometriosis. ⋯ The treatment also significantly lowered immunoreactivity to all mediators involved in central sensitization and to HDAC2 in DRG, to TrkA and CGRP in ectopic endometrium, and to CGRP in eutopic endometrium. In summary, l-THP reduces lesion growth and generalized hyperalgesia. Thus, l-THP may be a promising therapeutics for endometriosis.