Evaluation of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Prostaglandin E2 Expression in Endometrial Tissue Following 8 Weeks of Swimming Exercise and Omega-3 Intake

Background and objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of swimming exercise and omega-3 supplementation on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) genes and serum levels of reproductive hormones in the endometrial tissue of a rat model of endometriosis. Methods: In this experimental study, 30 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of healthy-control, patient-control, patient+exercise, patient+omega-3, and patient+omega-3+exercise groups. After the induction of endometriosis, the rats were subjected to 8 weeks of swimming exercise, 5 days a week as well as 2 ml/kg/body weight of omega-3. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The expression of COX-2 and PGE2 as well as serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the healthy-control group (p≤0.0001). Exercise and omega-3 supplementation either separately or combined could significantly reduce the expression of both genes and serum levels of LH, FSH, and estradiol (p 0.05). This effect was more profound in the patient+exercise+omega-3 group. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that regulating the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 genes as well as serum levels of reproductive hormones through swimming exercise and omega-3 supplementation can improve endometriosis.