Objective:To investigate the vasodilatative roles and mechanisms of 17 ? estradiol(E 2) on rat thoracic aortas (TA). Methods:Rings cut from thoracic aortas of female rats were used by in vitro perfusion. The endothelium dependent and endothelium independent vasorelaxing effects of E 2 were measured. Furthermore, it was also observed whether the relaxing effects of E 2 were modulated by tamoxifen, N ? nitro L arginine methyl ester(L NAME),TEA, methylene blue(MB) or Methylene Blue(MB).Results:E 2 caused acute concentration dependent relaxation in TA with endothelium, but not significant without endothelium( P