Morphological analysis of changes in the heart and aorta of rats undergoing bilateral ovariectomy; cardio- and vasoprotective effects of estradiol

Abstract

The effect of bilateral oophorectomy on the structure of the heart and aorta and changes in their structure during substitution estradiol therapy were assessed in rats. Estrogen deficit led to development of nonspecific changes in myocardial and aortic microstructure with tissue edema. Substitute estradiol therapy protected the oophorectomized animals from stress-dependent morphological changes of the cardiovascular system.