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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
[TNFalpha and sVCAM plasma levels during standard exercise test are higher in postmenopausal women with
Tomasz Milewicz1, Renata Rajtar, Danuta Fedak
1Klinika Endokrynologii Ginekologicznej, Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie. momilewi@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Aim:
The evaluation of serum ICAM, VCAM, endothelin-1 (Et-1), TNF-alpha and its soluble receptor levels and the secretion of nitric oxide in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.
Patients:
26 postmenopausal patients who neither received hormonal therapy nor cholesterol lowering treatment. Group A consisted of 16 women with high serum total cholesterol and group B of 10 women with normal cholesterol level.
Methods:
Basic fasting serum FSH, 17beta-estradiol, as well as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels were evaluated. Standard exercise test was carried out according to Bruce protocol. Blood samples were taken thrice (prior to, at peak exercise, 15th min of recovery) during the test to evaluate the serum levels of ICAM, VCAM, ET-1, TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors as well as secretion of nitric oxide.
Results:
In group A--sVCAM (660.0 +/- 106.4 mg/l versus 518.6 +/- 65.4 mg/l; p < 0.05) and TNF-alpha serum levels (2.2 +/- 1.0 ng/l versus 1.2 +/- 0.4 ng/l; p < 0.05) at peak exercise were higher in group A compared to group B. There was a tendency (p > 0.05) of higher ET-1 plasma levels in group A.
Conclusion:
Serum levels of adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators were higher during physical exercise in postmenopausal women with atherosclerosis risk factors.
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