Original Article

Unsuccessful Induction of Endometriosis in Female Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Sylvie Defrère^a, Jean Squifflet^a, Jean-Christophe Lousse^a, Anne Van Langendonckt^a, Reinaldo González-Ramos^a, Jean-Michel Foidart^c, Christine Jérome^d, Luc Delattre^e, Jacques Donnez^a, Jean-Paul Dehoux<sup>b

a</sup>Department ofGynecology and
^bExperimental Surgery Unit, Medical School, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels,
^cLaboratory of Tumor and Development Biology,
^dCenter for Education and Research on Macromolecules, and
^eLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Address of Corresponding Author

Gynecol Obstet Invest 2008;66:84-90 (DOI: 10.1159/000127447)

  Key Words

• Animal model
• Endometriosis
• Macaca mulatta
• Primate
• Rhesus monkey

  Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to induce endometriosis in female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) for research purposes. Methods: Three female monkeys from 4 to 4.5 years of age underwent three consecutive attempts at endometriosis induction over an 8-month period: (i) the first attempt involved intravaginal sampling of endometrial tissue and transplantation into the intrapelvic cavity; (ii) the second entailed surgical removal of endometrium after hysterotomy and intra-abdominal placement, and (iii) the third used endometrial mucosa obtained by scraping the uterus after hysterectomy, placed in a surgical pouch created in the retrovesical space (Retzius). In each case, the pelvic cavity was closely inspected after 7, 9, and 6 weeks respectively for the presence of endometriotic lesions, and peritoneal biopsies were performed. Results: Neither macroscopic observation nor histological analysis revealed any endometriotic lesions. Conclusion: This failure to induce endometriosis in female rhesus macaques suggests that this species is not the most efficient experimental model among primates to investigate endometriosis development or treatment.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Jean-Paul Dehoux
Experimental Surgery Unit, Medical School
Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 56
BE-1200 Brussels (Belgium)
Tel. +32 2 764 5622, Fax +32 2 764 5621, E-Mail jean-paul.dehoux@uclouvain.be

  Article Information

Received: October 24, 2007
Accepted after revision: February 4, 2008
Published online: April 23, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 56