Effects of Estrogen on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Responses to L-NAME Treatment in Ovariectomized Rats

Purpose: This study was to evaluate whether the effect of estradiol on the blood pressure and heart rate responses to acute inhibition of nitric oxide synthasc in female Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Rats were divided into five groups consisting of seven rats each; 1. Sham-operated age-control (Sham); 2. Ovariectomized (O); 3. Ovariectomized plus estradiol (OE); 4. Ovariectomized plus L-nitro-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (OL-NAME);5. Ovariectomized plus estradiol and nitric oxide synthase (OEL-NAME). Results: Mean, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressures in sham, ovariectomized and ovaricctomized plus estradiol were at close levels to each other. Mean, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressures increased significantly in the ovariectomized plus estradiol and L-NAME tretment group relative to ovariectomized plus L-NAME treatment group. Conclusion: This study has showed that estradiol does not play a significant role in modulating the blood pressure of female rats