Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Effects of testosterone on coronary vasomotor regulation in men with coronary heart disease
C M Webb1, J G McNeill, C S Hayward
1Cardiac Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, and Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
Insights
Testosterone dilates coronary arteries and boosts blood flow in men with coronary artery disease. This study investigated testosterone
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence is higher in men than premenopausal women, suggesting a role for male hormones.
- Animal studies indicate testosterone relaxes coronary arteries, but its effect on human coronary circulation is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of testosterone on human coronary artery diameter and blood flow in men with established CAD.
Main Methods:
- 13 men with CAD received intracoronary infusions of testosterone at physiological concentrations.
- Coronary artery diameter and blood flow velocity were measured using quantitative coronary angiography and intracoronary Doppler.
- Acetylcholine and isosorbide dinitrate were used for comparison.
Main Results:
- Testosterone significantly increased coronary artery diameter compared to baseline.
- Coronary blood flow significantly increased at all tested testosterone concentrations.
- No significant changes in responses to acetylcholine were observed after testosterone administration.
Conclusions:
- Short-term intracoronary testosterone administration dilates coronary arteries and increases blood flow in men with CAD.
- Testosterone may have a beneficial direct effect on coronary circulation in men.
Background:
The increased incidence of coronary artery disease in men compared with premenopausal women suggests a detrimental role of male hormones on the cardiovascular system. However, testosterone has direct relaxing effects on coronary arteries in animals, as shown both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of testosterone on the human coronary circulation remains unknown.
Methods And Results:
We studied 13 men (aged 61+/-11 years) with coronary artery disease. They underwent measurement of coronary artery diameter and blood flow after a 3-minute intracoronary infusion of vehicle control (ethanol) followed by 2-minute intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) until peak velocity response. A dose-response curve to 3-minute infusions of testosterone (10(-10) to 10(-7) mol/L) was then determined, and the acetylcholine infusions were repeated. Finally, an intracoronary bolus of isosorbide dinitrate (1000 microgram) was given. Coronary blood flow was calculated from measurements of blood flow velocity using intracoronary Doppler and coronary artery diameter using quantitative coronary angiography. Testosterone significantly increased coronary artery diameter compared with baseline (2.78+/-0. 74 mm versus 2.86+/-0.72 mm [P=0.05], 2.87+/-0.71 mm [P=0.038], and 2.90+/-0.75 mm [P=0.005] for baseline versus testosterone 10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L, respectively). A significant increase in coronary blood flow occurred at all concentrations of testosterone compared with baseline (geometric mean [95% CI]: 32 [25, 42] versus 36.3 [27, 48] (P=0.006), 35.3 [26, 47] (P=0.029), 36.8 [28, 49] (P=0.002), and 37 [28, 48] (P=0.002), mL/min for baseline versus testosterone 10(-10) to 10(-7) mol/L, respectively). No differences existed in coronary diameter or blood flow responses to acetylcholine before versus after testosterone.
Conclusions:
Short-term intracoronary administration of testosterone, at physiological concentrations, induces coronary artery dilatation and increases coronary blood flow in men with established coronary artery disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
01:16Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures