The effect of rosiglitazone in the prevention of intra-abdominal adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model

BACKGROUND: Effects of rosiglitazone in the prevention of adhesion formation were evaluated. METHODS: Eighty Wistar albino rats were randomly grouped into eight equally sized groups. A 2-cm segment of the antimesenteric surface of the right uterine horn was traumatized to form a standardized lesion, using bipolar cautery. A dose-response study was performed with 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone. Fifteen days later, adhesions were evaluated clinically and histopathologically. A time-response study was performed with 1 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone (the minimum dose found to significantly affect adhesion formation). Rosiglitazone was given for 7 days post-operatively and results were compared with those of control and the 15-day group (time-response). In all these studies, rosiglitazone was orally administered 3 days before the operation and continued post-operatively. In two further experimental groups, rosiglitazone was only administered pre-operatively or post-operatively. RESULTS: Approximately 1 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone was found to reduce adhesion scores both clinically and histopathologically. Duration of treatment was also found to affect the extent of adhesion formation. However, giving rosiglitazone either just pre-operatively or post-operatively did not significantly reduce adhesion formation. CONCLUSION: Rosiglitazone with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonist activity reduced the formation of i.p. adhesion possibly by reducing the initial inflammatory response and the subsequent exudation in this study.