RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effect of estrogen (E2) on the connexin43 (Cx43) expression of renal interlobar arteries after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R).Methods The experiment was carried out in vivo using an SD rat I/R model.SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,sham-operation group,I/R group,and estrogen-intervention group.The functional changes of the kidney were analyzed after 24 hours of I/R;nephridial tissue section was stained by hematoxylin-eosin (HE),and Paller scores were used to evaluate the degree of kidney damage.Pressure myography was utilized to detect the vasomotor function of renal interlobar arteries.Immunofluorescence technique,qRT-PCR and Western blot were applied to determine the expression of Cx43 in renal interlobar arteries in different groups.Results Estrogen markedly decreased the levels of Cr and BUN in the serum of I/R rats (P＜0.05),and the damage of the kidney tissue could be improved noticeably.The vasomotor rate of renal interlobar arteries was (24.80 ± 3.70)％ after I/R and (41.60 ± 3.50)％ after treatment with estrogen,which was higher than that of I/R group (P＜0.05).The expression of Cx43 was lower in renal interlobar arteries of estrogen-intervention group than that in I/R group (P＜0.01).Conclusion Estrogen may reduce vascular tension and boost dilation of the artery by inhibiting Cx43 expression and GJ function.Therefore,estrogen may attenuate the damage of I/R and improve renal function.