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Testosterone and coronary vascular tone: implications in coronary artery disease

F L Wynne1, R A Khalil

  • 1Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical center, Harvard Medical School West Roxbury, Massachusetts 02132, USA.

Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|May 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Testosterone may protect against coronary artery disease by promoting blood vessel relaxation and inhibiting smooth muscle contraction. These findings suggest beneficial cardiovascular effects of testosterone, challenging previous assumptions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Endocrinology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence is higher in men, implicating male sex steroids.
  • Testosterone's role is debated, with suggestions of both harmful atherogenic/vasoconstrictive effects and beneficial antiatherogenic/vasodilator effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential beneficial cardiovascular effects of testosterone.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which testosterone may influence coronary artery function.

Main Methods:

  • Examined the interaction of testosterone (T) with its specific receptors.
  • Investigated both genomic and acute non-genomic effects of testosterone on vascular pathways.
  • Assessed testosterone's impact on endothelial activation, nitric oxide-cGMP pathway, and hyperpolarization-mediated relaxation.
  • Evaluated testosterone's inhibition of smooth muscle contraction signaling, including intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and protein kinases.

Main Results:

  • Testosterone interaction with receptors triggers genomic and acute non-genomic responses.
  • Testosterone activates the endothelium, stimulating nitric oxide-cGMP and hyperpolarization-mediated vascular relaxation.
  • Testosterone inhibits smooth muscle contraction signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Testosterone promotes endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
  • Testosterone inhibits coronary smooth muscle contraction.
  • These mechanisms suggest testosterone has beneficial effects against coronary artery disease.

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