title: Estrogen Modulates Expression of Tight Junction Proteins in Rat Vagina.
abstract: Background. The objectives of this study were to investigate the localization of tight junctions and the modulation of zonula occludens- (ZO-) 1, occludin and claudin-1 expression by estrogen in castrated female rat vagina. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (230-240 g, n = 45) were divided into three groups and subjected to a sham operation (control group, n = 15), bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx group, n = 15), or bilateral ovariectomy followed by daily subcutaneous injection of 17β-estradiol (50 μg/kg/day, Ovx + Est group, n = 15). The cellular localization and expression of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 were determined in each group by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results. Expression of ZO-1 was diffuse in all groups, with the highest intensity in the superficial epithelium in the control group. Occludin was localized in the intermediate and basal epithelium. Claudin-1 was most intense in the superficial layer of the vaginal epithelium in the control group. Expression of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 was significantly decreased after ovariectomy and was restored to the level of the control after estrogen replacement. Conclusions. Tight junctions are distinctly localized in rat vagina, and estrogen modulates the expression of tight junctions. Further researches are needed to clarify the functional role of tight junctions in vaginal lubrication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Suk
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3374-9435
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyuyoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwangsung
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8827-162X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D062445:Claudin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D062793:Occludin / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D062445:Claudin-1; C568114:Cldn1 protein, rat; D062793:Occludin; C568987:Ocln protein, rat; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; C569044:Tjp1 protein, rat; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; D004958:Estradiol