Gender differences and endothelium- and platelet-derived factors in the coronary circulation

1. Experiments were designed to determine whether or not interactions of platelets with coronary arteries are affected by gender or oestrogen-status. 2. Platelets and right coronary arteries were isolated from sexually mature male, female and ovariectomized pigs. Arteries were suspended in organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. Responses of rings, with and without endothelium, were evaluated to aggregating platelets and the platelet products 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). 3. Release of 5-HT, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin were measured from platelets. 4. Platelets caused relaxations of rings with endothelium from all pigs. However, in rings without endothelium, consistent contractions were observed only in rings from male pigs. 5. The release of 5-HT and prostacyclin was greatest from platelets of ovariectomized pigs compared with male and female pigs. Release of TXA2 was greatest from platelets of male pigs. 6. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to ADP and contractions to 5-HT were similar among the three groups. 7. These results suggest that there may be gender-specific differences in vasomotor responses to autogenous platelets but not to the platelet-derived products 5-HT and ADP. Furthermore, there are gender differences in platelets in the release of cyclo-oxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid and 5-HT. These products could contribute to gender differences in response to injury in the coronary circulation.