Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Progestins used in hormonal replacement therapy display different effects in coronary arteries from New Zealand white
Nina G Pedersen1, Susan H Pedersen, Tórur Dalsgaard
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clinical Research Unit, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was in an animal model to assess the vascular effects of different progestins commonly used in hormonal replacement treatment.
Methods:
Fifty-six non-atherosclerotic, ovariectomized New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into seven groups: (1) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), (2) norethisterone acetate (NETA), (3) conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), (4) 17-beta-estradiol (E2), (5) MPA+CEE , (6) NETA+E2 , (7) or placebo (n=8) and given hormonal treatment through the diet for 4 weeks. Ring segments from the left proximal coronary artery and from the distal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery were microdissected and mounted for isometric tension recordings in a myograph. The vasoconstrictory responses induced by potassium, endothelin-1, calcium and Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and the vasodilatory response induced by acetylcholine and sodiumnitroprusside were investigated. The maximum contraction/relaxation (Emax) and the concentration required to induce half the maximum response (EC50) were determined. EC50 values were expressed as the negative logarithm to the molar concentration, pD2=-log EC50.
Results:
Treatment with MPA alone caused when compared to treatment with NETA an increase in tension development in the distal coronary artery after the addition of potassium ( 6.36+/-0.36 versus 4.31+/-0.42 P<0.005) (single dose response, mN/mm, mean+/-S.E.M.) and endothelin-1 (9.41+/-0.82 versus 6.43+/-0.73 P<0.05) (Emax, mN/mm, mean+/-S.E.M.). Treatment with MPA compared to placebo caused an endothelin-1 induced increase of Emax in the distal coronary artery (9.21+/-0.87 versus 6.51+/-0.65 P<0.05) and a calcium induced increase of pD2 in both coronary arteries (2.98+/-0.19 versus 2.42+/-0.12 P<0.05, proximal coronary artery) (3.26+/-0.09 versus 2.9+/-0.1 P<0.05, distal coronary artery) (pD2, mean+/-S.E.M.). Treatment with NETA compared to placebo in the proximal coronary artery, after the addition of sodiumnitroprusside caused a decrease of pD2 (5.33+/-0.19 versus 5.94+/-0.13 P<0.05). Treatment with E2 compared to treatment with CEE in the proximal coronary artery caused a decrease of pD2 after the addition of sodiumnitroprusside (5.00+/-0.16 versus 5.77+/-0.28 P<0.05). No significant differences were found between MPA+CEE and NETA+E2.
Conclusion:
Treatment with MPA alone seems to enhance the contractile response to potassium and endothelin-1 in the distal coronary artery compared to NETA, indicating that different progestins used in hormonal replacement treatment may display different effects on contractile functions of coronary arteries.
