Gender and estradiol as major factors in the expression and dimerization of nNOSα in rats with experimental diabetic gastroparesis.

Background: The molecular mechanisms of cellular changes responsible for diabetic gastroparesis, primarily seen in middle-aged women, still remain incompletely defined. We hypothesized that a decrease in the expression, dimerization, and post-translational modification of neuronal nitric oxide synthase alpha (nNOSα) is estrogen mediated and responsible for the gender-specific prevalence of this malady.

Methods: We induced diabetes by injecting male and female rats with streptozotocin.