title: [Expressions of HO-1 and HO-2 in the vaginal smooth muscle of ovariectomized female rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the changes of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) in the vaginal smooth muscle of ovariectomized female rats and to investigate the effects of estrogen on the expressions of HO-1 and HO-2 in the vaginal smooth muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four 8-week old female SD rats were equally randomized into Group A (2-week castrated) , B (4-week castrated), C (2-week sham operation) and D (4-week sham operation). The levels of plasma estradiol were measured by radio-immunoassay for all the rats and the expressions of HO-1 and HO-2 in the vaginal muscle were detected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative level of plasma estradiol was significantly lower in Groups A and B than in C and D (P < 0.05). And the expressions of HO-1 and HO-2 in the vaginal smooth muscle were significantly decreased in the first two groups as compared with the latter two.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HO-1 and HO-2 are expressed in the vaginal smooth muscle of the female rats, and their decreased expressions are correlated with the lowered level of plasma estradiol. Estrogen may play a physiological role in the vaginal smooth muscle via HO/CO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang