Effect of tamoxifen on extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the urethra of castrated female rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen in activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 in the urethras of castrated female rats.


METHODS
Twelve castrated adult female rats were divided into a control group (n=6) in which the animals received vehicle, and the experimental group (n=6) in which the rats received tamoxifen 250 μg/day by gavage for 28 days. Then, the animals were sacrificed and their urethras removed. Proteins were extracted, quantified and processed by Western blot analysis with specific phospho-ERK1 and 2 antibodies. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test (p<0.05).


RESULTS
A significant increase occurred in phospho-ERK1 levels in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01), while no difference was found in phospho-ERK2 levels between the groups (p=0.313).


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that, at the doses and during the time of treatment used, tamoxifen significantly increased phospho-ERK1 levels in the urethras of castrated female rats.
Department of Gynecology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
Alesse R
AR
dos Santos
Pedro V
PV
Lopes-Costa
José A
JA
Gontijo
Benedito B
BB
da Silva
D000818:Animals; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014521:Urethra / Q000187:drug effects*
D013629:Tamoxifen; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3