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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Noninvasive Monitoring of Lesion Size in a Heterologous Mouse Model of Endometriosis
Published on: February 26, 2019
Rapamycin induces regression of endometriotic lesions by inhibiting neovascularization and cell proliferation
M W Laschke1, A Elitzsch, C Scheuer
1Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany. matthias.laschke@uniklinik-saarland.de
Background And Purpose:
Rapamycin is a widely used drug with antifungal, immunosuppressant and antiangiogenic effects. Herein, we studied whether immunosuppressive doses of rapamycin are capable of influencing endometriotic lesions.
Experimental Approach:
We tested in vitro the potential of rapamycin to inhibit endothelial cell sprouting using the aortic ring assay and we further studied its effect on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), apoptotic cell death-associated activated caspase-3 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cultured endometrial tissue fragments. In addition, we analyzed the drug in vivo after induction of endometriotic lesions by transplanting isolated endometrial fragments into the dorsal skinfold chamber of Syrian golden hamsters. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy, we repetitively analyzed angiogenesis, neovascularization and microcirculatory parameters over a time period of 14 days in rapamycin-treated animals and DMSO-treated controls.
Key Results:
Administration of rapamycin significantly reduced the size of the endometriotic lesions. This was associated by inhibition of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis as indicated by a suppression of endothelial cell sprouting in vitro and a reduction of microvessel density in endometriotic lesions in vivo. Moreover, rapamycin directly inhibited cell proliferation within endometrial tissue, while manifestation of apoptotic cell death remained unaffected.
Conclusions And Implications:
Our data indicate that administration of rapamycin may represent a novel therapeutic approach for an antiangiogenic treatment of endometriosis.
Insights
Rapamycin, an antiangiogenic drug, effectively reduced endometriosis lesion size by inhibiting blood vessel growth and cell proliferation. This study suggests rapamycin as a potential new treatment for endometriosis.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Rapamycin is known for its antifungal, immunosuppressant, and antiangiogenic properties.
- Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of immunosuppressive doses of rapamycin on endometriotic lesions.
- To evaluate rapamycin's antiangiogenic and anti-proliferative effects in endometriosis models.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assays: aortic ring assay for endothelial cell sprouting, cultured endometrial tissue for PCNA, caspase-3, and VEGF expression.
- In vivo studies: dorsal skinfold chamber model in hamsters with induced endometriotic lesions.
- Intravital fluorescence microscopy to assess angiogenesis and microcirculation over 14 days.
Main Results:
- Rapamycin significantly reduced endometriotic lesion size.
- Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis observed, with suppressed endothelial cell sprouting in vitro and reduced microvessel density in vivo.
- Rapamycin directly inhibited cell proliferation in endometrial tissue; apoptotic cell death remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Rapamycin demonstrates significant antiangiogenic and anti-proliferative effects on endometriotic lesions.
- These findings suggest rapamycin as a potential novel therapeutic agent for antiangiogenic treatment of endometriosis.
