MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke Study evaluates geographic and racial differences in stroke in a population-based cohort of Black and White persons aged >45 years.We studied female participants aged 45-75 years in 2003-7 (n ¼ 20,135). We excluded women with surgical removal of the uterus/ovaries, premenopausal status or with missing data on menopausal status or one of the covariates. The final sample comprised 7,427 menopausal women. We used multiple linear regression to compare self-reported age at menopause between Black and White women and among women residing in 4 geograph- ical regions: South,Northeast, Midwestand West. Pairwise comparisons were performed in the analyses to adjust for covariates known to be associ- ated with menopausal age (chronological age, parity and smoking history) and for common chronic diseases that might affect ovarian vascular health: hypertension and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean reported age at menopause was 49.7 5.4 years with no difference observed between Black and White women (adjusted mean ¼ 49.5 vs. 49.8; p ¼ 0.07) after adjusting for age, region, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. However, menopause occurred signifi- cantly earlier in women living in the South than those residing in the North- east, West and Midwest. These findings persisted after controlling for age, race, parity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. TABLE 1. Region Age at menopauseSTD z P- value y Adjusted age at menopause STD z P- value South 49.5 5.4 – 49.5 5.4 – Northeast 50.3 5.0 0.0003 50.3 5.0 0.0004 West 50.2 5.3 0.0008 50.1 5.3 0.004 Midwest 50.0 5.2 0.013 50.0 5.2 0.007 z P-value for comparison to South region; y Adjusting for age, race, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus CONCLUSIONS: We observed no difference in the self-reported age at menopause between Black and White women in the United States. However, women who reside in the South reported undergoing menopause earlier than those living elsewhere. Reasons for earlier menopause in the South are not clear, but could be related to diet and/or environmental factors. Further study confirming these findings using a more robust measure of age at menopause are warranted. Supported by: None. P-428 DOPPLERFLUXOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE VASCULAR EFFECT OF TIBOLONE ON THE OFLTALMIC AND CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERIES: RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE BLINDED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY. M. A. M. Souza,G. V. Souza, S. Geber. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerai, Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais,Brazil; FCCM- Minas Gerais,Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: Tibolone is one of the most used drugs for HT for climateric women. However the vascular effects are yet to be established, especially ce- rebral microvascularization. Therefore the aim of the study was to evaluate the vascular effect of tibolone in the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 climateric women were allocated to this study. A total of 50 received tibolone 2.5 mg for 84 days and the other 50 received placebo (control group) for 84 days. In the study group, 44 patients completed the study and in control study 47. Ophthalmic and central retinal arteries were studied with doppler in order to determine the resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and relation sistole/diastole (S/D). The examination was performed before starting the use of medication and at day 80 to 84 after starting medication. RESULTS: The comparison of the characteristics of the women in the two groups showed that they were similar in relation to age, time of menopause, BMI, blood pressure, parity and cardiac frequency. When we analyzed the ophthalmic artery of patients that used Tibolone the results were: RI (before) 0,710,05 RI (after)0,720,08(p¼0,43);PI (before)1,290,22PI (after)1,300,25 (p¼0,46) e SD (before)3,490,77 SD (after)3,650,94 (p¼0,32).For the central retinal artery the results were: RI (before)0,670,09 RI (after)0,690,10 (p¼0,78); PI (before)1,200,29 PI (after)1,220,32 (p¼0,27) e SD (before)3,290,95 SD (after)3,301,07 (p¼0,36). In the placebo group we found no statistical differences of th sults when comparing before and after using placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 2.5mg of tibolone has no vascular effect o ophthalmic and central retinal arteries when used for 84 days. Supported by: None. P-429 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF RALOXIFEN AND ATORVASTATIN IN POSTMENOPAUSAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN OVARIECTOMIZED RATS. Y. Uyar,B. Demir,C. Kose,Y. Baytur, U. Inceboz, K. Ozbilgin. Celal Bayar University, Medical Faculty, Manisa Turkey. OBJECTIVE: Atheroclerosis observed most frequently during postmen pausal period and subsequent cardiovascular diseases force scientists the most effective drugs to be used during this period. In this study, w at evaluating effects of using raloxifen and atorvastatin on postmenop atherosclerosis development steps. DESIGN: This study was carried out in the Experimental Surgery Labo tory of the Celal Bayar University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of rats each containing ten rats were used for the study. Rats were ovariectomized and administe loxifen 3 mg/kg, atorvastatin 30 mg/kg and raloxifen 3 mg/kg and ator tin 30 mg/kg according to their groups after their entry into menopaus 5 weeks drug administration, rats were sacrificed under anesthesia, th tas were dissected and stained with hematoxylin-eosine using immuno chemical methods. Markers such as estrogen receptor alpha (ERa), est receptor beta (ERb), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelia tric oxide synthase (eNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), endot lin-1 (ET-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were evalua in the preparations. RESULTS: The immunoreactivity of ERb was highly detectable on end thelial cells of the control group whereas ERa immunoreactivity was not de- tectable. eNOS immunoreactivity was observed more compared to iNOS activity. ET-1 staining was also more than NOS staining. We found inte diate staining activity of TNFa and MCP-1. In Atorvastatin group, ERb im munoreactivity was found to be decreased. Along with a decrease in T ET-1 and MCP-1 reactivities, a paradoxical decrease was found in eNOS iNOS activities. In Raloxifen group, ERb showed a minimal decrease. eN activity did not change while iNOS activity increased. Although it was n high as the one detected in atorvastatin group, decrease was observed in TNFa, MCP-1 and ET-1 activities. In the group where both of the drugs had been administered, decrease was observed in all the markers, wit most significant ones in TNFa and ET-1 stainings. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin causing a significant decrease in inflam- matory markers and inflamation being an important development step in early stages of atherosclerosis lead us to the decision that atorvastatin have more help in early prevention of atherosclerosis. However, furthe ies are required to evaluate effects of raloxifen in preventing atheroscl Supported by: Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty Experimental S gery Laboratory. P-430 LOW ESTRADIOL PLASMA LEVELS DURING 12 WEEKS THER- APY WITH ULTRA LOW DOSE 10 mg 17ß-ESTRADIOL VAGINAL TABLETS. M. Eugster-Hausmann, D. Lehnick, J. Waitzinger, S. E. McKendrick, E. Lang. Novo Nordisk FemCare AG, Zurich, Switzer- land; Biostatistics / Pharmacokinetics / Data Analysis, AAIPharma Deuts land GmbH & Co. KG, Neu-Ulm, Germany; Clinical Pharmacology Phase I/IIa, AAIPharma Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Neu-Ulm, Germany; Bio- statistics / Pharmacokinetics / Data Analysis, AAIPharma Limited, Edin- burgh, United Kingdom. OBJECTIVE: 10 mg 17ß-estradiol vaginal tablets have shown to be eff tive in clinical trials. In the context of a larger pharmacokinetic trial, th makokineticpropertiesof 10 mg estradiol (E2) vaginaltabletswere investigated in postmenopausal women with atrophic vaginitis. DESIGN: 29 postmenopausal women (age 60-70) with vaginal atrophy were treated for 12 weeks with 10 mg estradiol vaginal tablets adminis once daily for the first 2 weeks of the study, followed by twice-weekly tenance therapy for 10 weeks. FERTILITY & STERILITY Ò S251