ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ageing and ovariectomy on biomarkers of urogenital ageing in old and young-adult rats. Fisher 344 rats (18- and 3-months-old, n = 6 x 2) underwent ovariectomy. Age-matched sham animals received no intervention (n = 6 x 2). One month later, biomarkers of urogenital ageing were evaluated (light microscopic count of urethral and anal canal submucosal blood vessels, Western blot analysis of urethral, and anal canal submucosal collagen I and III and cytoplasmic p27(kip1) expression in the striated urethral and anal sphincters and levator ani and gel electrophoresis of isomyosin I proportion in these muscles) and compared in all groups (n = 24). All biomarkers of urogenital ageing studied were significantly increased in old compared to young-adult sham rats. Ovariectomy significantly increased these changes further in old versus young-adult rats with either smaller or larger differential effect than ageing compared to young-adult sham animals. Ovariectomy significantly exacerbates normative urogenital ageing changes in rats.
