title: The effect of surgical menopause on the intima-media thickness of the carotid and coronary arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of prior bilateral oophorectomy on the intima-media thickness (IMT) of coronary and carotid arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 Wistar albino rats, aged 8-10 weeks, were assigned to three groups: ovariectomized (n = 10), control (n = 10) and sham (n = 5). The rats in the sham group only underwent midline laparotomy, while the other rats' ovaries were removed by the same type of laparotomy. All rats were sacrificed to evaluate microscopically the impact of a prolonged 26-week surgical menopause (menopausal period) on the IMT of the carotid and coronary arterial structure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IMTs of both the carotid and coronary arteries in the ovariectomized group were significantly thicker than those of the control and sham groups (carotid arteries: 268.69 ± 53.67, 195.61 ± 47.60 and 193.86 ± 75.01 μm, p = 0.014; coronary arteries: 182.40 ± 30.22, 136.00 ± 35.82 and 165.24 ± 40.68 μm, p = 0.022, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of this study, surgical menopause results in a noteworthy increase in the IMT of the carotid and coronary arteries when compared with the controls. This interventional effect may have a significant role in accelerating the process of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gynecology , Gynecological Clinic, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey ;
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdemirci
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology & High-Risk Pregnancy Clinic , Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey ;|c Department of Epidemiology , Institute of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey ;
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasapoglu
authors.affiliation: d Etlik Zübeyde Hanim Women's Teaching and Research Hospital , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Infertility Unit , Ankara , Turkey ;
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dilbaz
authors.affiliation: e Hizan Government Hospital , Department of Family Medicine , Bitlis , Turkey ;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salgur
authors.affiliation: f Abant Izzet Baysal University , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Bolu , Turkey ;
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.affiliation: f Abant Izzet Baysal University , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Bolu , Turkey ;
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.affiliation: g Ankara Teaching and Research Hospital , Department of Pathology , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Unverdi
authors.affiliation: g Ankara Teaching and Research Hospital , Department of Pathology , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hucumenoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008593:Menopause; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
keywords: Carotid artery; coronary artery; intima-media thickness; menopause; ovariectomy; rats