Effects of estrogen on expression of choline acetyltransferase and nitric oxide synthase 1 in intracardiac ganglionic neurons in ovariectomized rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of estrogen on the expression of Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS 1) in the intracardiac ganglionic neurons of the OVX rats. Methods: OVX and ERT models were set up and the rats were killed after 2 months.The changes of ChAT and NOS 1 in intracardiac ganglionic neurons was investigated by immunohistochemical method together with image analysis method. Results: The ChAT and NOS 1 levels in the OVX group was evidently lower than those in the normal group, and there was no evident difference between the ERT group and the normal group, but the ChAT and NOS 1 levels in the OVX+TAM+E2 group were lower than those in the normal group. There was no evident difference between the OVX group and the OVX+TAM+E2 group. Conclusion: The results suggest that estrogen can upregulate the expression of ChAT and NOS 1 in the intracardiac ganglionic neurons of the rats,and then indirectly regulates the function of the cardiovascular system.