[Effect of estrogen on heat shock protein 70 expression in rat masseter muscle].
摘要
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of estrogen on heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression in rat masseter muscle. METHODS: Sixty twelve-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham surgery group (control group), ovariectomy group (OVX group), ovariectomy with estradiol valerate replacement treatment group (OVX/EV group). Half of the animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks respectively, then the masseter muscle was removed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) method was employed to study the HSP70 expression in masseter muscle. RESULTS: Compared to control group and OVX/EV group, the expression of HSP70 was significantly lower at 8 weeks in OVX group (P < 0.05). There were no significantly difference between the HSP70 expression of control group and that of OVX/EV group. CONCLUSION: Estrogen may affect HSP70 expression in rat masseter muscle, and estrogen replacement therapy may prevent HSP70 reduction.