FIG. 3.

Effect of E2 on histology of the vaginal wall. A) Representative photographs of Masson (a, b) and Hart (c, d) -stained vaginal rings from ovariectomized animals treated with vehicle (a, c) or E2 (b, d) for 21 days. Note increased thickness of epithelium (epi) and muscularis (mus) in E2-treated animals. Sections were taken at midvagina. Dotted line delineates epithelium (epi) from underlying lamina propria (l.p.) and muscularis (mus). Arrows indicate elastic fibers. Bar = 200 μm for a, b; 50 μm for c, d. B) Thickness of epi, l.p., mus, and total wall (Total) in control (n = 6, open bar) and E2-treated (n = 6, closed bar) animals. *P < 0.05 C. Elastin density in subepithelium (within 500 μm of basal lamina) and muscularis of control (open bar) and E2-treated (closed bar) animals. Data represent mean ± SEM of noninjured animals with similar results 21 days after the injury. *P < 0.05 compared with control.