Effect of ovariectomy on the gene expression of detrusor muscarinic receptors in female rats.

Eight rats served as control subjects with sham surgeries and eight rats underwent ovariectomy. Two months later, the expression of muscarinic receptors, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and estrogen receptor (R) at the mRNA level were assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that performing an ovariectomy in a virgin rat appears to have little effect on the gene expression of detrusor muscarinic receptors and urethral nNOS despite the menopausal events that occurred.