apoptotic and cytotoxicity effects of all trans retinoic acid (atra) in cultured human uterine myoma

background: uterine leiomyoma is the most common tumor among the female in the reproductive period. the first step to control the tumor is employing medical treatment. currently gnrh agonists are the most common drugs for medical therapy of uterine myoma.  climacteric-like symptoms and osteoporosis and recurrence of the size of tumor after gnrh agonists consumption are among the most common side effects of employing the medical treatment. in the present study the apoptotic and cytotoxicity effects of all trans retinoic acid (atra) on cultured human leiomyoma cells were investigated. methods: samples were myoma cells of women with myomatosis uterine admitted in imam reza hospital of kermanshah. after preparation and counting by neobar lam, they were cultured for 24 hours. then they were divided into exposed and control groups. the experimental group exposed to ascending concentrations of atra and the control group did not have any intervention. after exposure, the cells were cultured for 72 hours. finally the apoptosis and cytotoxicity were measured using tunel method and ldh kit respectively and the results were compared. results: the results indicated that apoptotic effects of atra were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0.01). cytotoxicity rate of atra was higher than that of control group. conclusion: the above findings support the hypothesis that probably retinoic acid pathway is one of the main pathways in myoma pathogenesis. it is possible that this patll way. would be used to stopping to growth of myoma.