Effect of estrogen and progesterone on the expression of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptors mRNA in the liver of ovariectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the expression of dihydroxyvitamin D receptor (VDR) mRNA in the liver of ovariectomized rats.


METHODS
Twenty-five adult female SD rats were randomly divided, with equal numbers, into sham-operated group (sham), ovariectomized group (OVX), ovariectomized group with estrogen treatment (OVX+E), ovariectomized group with progesterone treatment (OVX+P) and ovariectomized group with both estrogen and progesterone treatment (OVX+E+P). After 3 months and a half of feeding, all animals were killed to assess VDR mRNA by way of reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
RT-PCR revealed marked increase in the band intensity corresponding to VDR mRNA product in Sham, OVX+E, and OVX+E+P groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen may increase the transcription level of VDR gene in the liver of ovariectomized rats.
Zhou
Yun
Y
Department of Endocrionology, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Ye
Ren-Qing
RQ
Cai
De-Hong
DH
Zhang
Hua
H
D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*
D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D011374:Progesterone; D002117:Calcitriol