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Effects of estrogen treatment on arterial wall structure and function
T B Clarkson1, M S Anthony, K P Klein
1Department of Comparative Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Drugs
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Estrogen protects against coronary heart disease (CHD) and coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) in women. Studies in cynomolgus monkeys show estrogen reduces CAA and improves vascular function, offering insights into CHD prevention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Primate Models in Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Premenopausal women exhibit lower coronary heart disease (CHD) rates than men, a protective effect diminished post-menopause.
- Estrogen is hypothesized to protect against coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA), supported by epidemiological data on hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
- The cynomolgus monkey model offers a valuable platform for investigating estrogen's impact on coronary artery function and CAA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of estrogen on coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) and vascular function in female cynomolgus monkeys.
- To compare CAA progression in premenopausal, postmenopausal, and estrogen-treated female monkeys relative to males.
- To elucidate potential mechanisms underlying estrogen's cardioprotective effects.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) in male, premenopausal female, and surgically postmenopausal female cynomolgus monkeys.
- Assessment of CAA and vascular function in ovarian-deficient stressed and unstressed female monkeys, with and without estrogen treatment.
- Evaluation of estrogen's impact on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism and coronary artery vascular function.
Main Results:
- Premenopausal monkeys displayed less CAA than males and surgically postmenopausal females; pregnancy further inhibited CAA.
- Ovarian-deficient stressed females showed increased CAA and impaired vascular function compared to unstressed controls.
- Estrogen treatment reduced CAA in both premenopausal and postmenopausal female monkeys compared to untreated groups.
- Estrogen's protective effects were partly attributed to reduced LDL uptake/degradation and improved coronary artery vascular function.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen confers significant protection against coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) in female primates.
- Estrogen treatment mitigates CAA progression and enhances vascular function, suggesting a therapeutic role in cardiovascular health.
- The cynomolgus monkey model effectively demonstrates estrogen's beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, relevant to human CHD prevention.