title: Effects of estrogens on the expression of caveolin-1 in the urinary bladders of female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of hormonal alterations on the expression of caveolin-1 in the urinary bladders of ovariectomized rats and to determine the role of caveolin-1 in the overactivity of the detrusor muscle that occurs with hormonal alterations in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: a control group, a group that underwent bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx), and a group that underwent bilateral ovariectomy followed by subcutaneous injections of 17β-estradiol (Ovx+Est). After 4 weeks, urodynamic studies were done to measure the contraction interval and contraction pressure. The expression and cellular localization of caveolin-1 were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence in the urinary bladders of rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On cystometrograms, the contraction interval was significantly shorter in the Ovx group (3.0±0.3 minute) than in the control group (5.6±0.5 minute) but was longer in the Ovx+Est group (9.2±0.4 minute) (P<0.05). Conversely, the average contraction pressure was higher in the Ovx group (26.4±0.48 mmHg) than in the control group (21.8±0.37 mmHg) but was lower in the Ovx+Est group (23.9±0.76 mmHg) (P<0.05). Caveolin-1 was expressed in the capillaries, arterioles, and venules. Expression of the protein caveolin-1 was significantly lower after ovariectomy and was restored to control levels after treatment with 17β-estradiol (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hormonal alterations cause a significant change in the expression of caveolin-1, which suggests that caveolin-1 might have a functional role in the overactivity of the detrusor muscle related to hormonal alterations in the urinary bladders of rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Ouck
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Aa
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyung Suck
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Sang
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Eu Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dongdeuk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwon