CHANGES OF CaM LEVEL IN RAT HYPOTHALAMUS, OVARY AND UTERUS OF RAT IN ACCOMPANY WITH IMMUNOHISTOCHE-MICAL LOCALIZATION OF CaM IN RAT UTERUS DURING ESTROUS CYCLE

The CaM content in rat hypothalamus, ovary and uterus of rat was measured by the ELISA method during the estrous cycle of rat. By means of immunnohistochemical technique, The CaM distributed in rat uterus at diestrus and estrus stages. The results may be summarized as following: (1) The level of CaM in hypothalamus, ovary and uterus of rat varies in different stages. The order of the levels of CaM conte nt is: estrusproestrusmetestrusdiestrus. The content level of CaM in hypothalamus and ovary is significantly higher than that in uterus. The results suggested that CaM could maintain the normal physiological function of the ovary and plays an important role in regulating estrous cycle in mammals. (2) Immuno-histochemical test showed that strong staining of CaM was found in connective tissue of en-dometrium and lamina propria in uterus of rat during estrus. The weak staining of CaM was shown in surrounding smooth muscle and epithelial layers. The amount of CaM in endomet-rium, smooth muscle layer and epithelial layer of rat in diestrus was lower than that in estrus animals. Calmodulin (CaM), Hypothalamus, Uterus, Ovary.