[Estrogen reduces the expressions of ryanodine receptor type 1 and Cav1.3 L-type calcium channel in the vaginal smooth muscle cells of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expressions of ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) and Cav1.3 L-type calcium channel (Cav1.3) in the vaginal smooth muscle cells of castrated rats and investigate the correlation of RyR1 and Cav1.3 with estrogen in female sexual dysfunction.


METHODS
Forty female SD rats of 8 weeks were randomly divided into Groups A (2-week sham operation), B (4-week sham operation), C (2-week castration) and D (4-week castration). Two and 4 weeks after surgery, the serum estradiol level was determined with the automated immunochemiluminescence system and the expressions of RyR1 and Cav1.3 in the vaginal smooth muscle were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Gray scale ratio was used to represent the mRNA expression levels of RyR1 and Car1.3, and the optical density value to denote their protein expression levels.


RESULTS
Serum estradiol was significantly decreased in Group C ([0.210 +/- 0.026] nmol/L) as compared with A ([0.505 +/- 0.053] nmol/L) (P < 0.01), and so was it in Group D ([0.130 +/- 0.031] nmol/L) in comparison with B ([0.476 +/- 0.058] nmol/L) (P < 0.01). RyR1 and Cav1.3 were expressed in all groups. The mRNA expressions of RyR1 and Cav1.3 were significantly reduced in Group C (0. 680 +/- 0.073 and 0.580 +/- 0.043) as compared with A (0.950 +/- 0.064 and 0.870 +/- 0.019) (P < 0.01), as well as in Group D (0.220 +/- 0.032 and 0.190 +/- 0.020) in comparison with B (0.890 +/- 0.072 and 0.820 +/- 0.021) (P < 0.01). The protein expressions of RyR1 and Cav1.3 were significantly down-regulated in Group C (96.67 +/- 7.75 and 87.97 +/- 6.96) as compared with A (123.69 +/- 10.66 and 106.46 +/- 8.04) (P < 0.01), and so were they in D (86.45 +/- 8.16 and 69.43 +/- 8.30) in comparison with B (109.31 +/- 9.87 and 97.38 +/- 7.56) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Both RyR1 and Cav1.3 were expressed in the vaginal smooth muscle cells of the rats, and estrogen might be involved in the regulation of female sexual reaction by acting on the expressions of RyR1 and Cav1.3.
Zhou
Qiu-gen
QG
Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
Jiang
Rui
R
Huang
Chao-you
CY
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D004967:Estrogens; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; C093712:Cacna1d protein, rat