Testosterone treatment enhances thromboxane A2 mimetic induced coronary artery vasoconstriction in guinea pigs

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) has been implicated as an important mediator of cardiovascular diseases. There have been several clinical reports of acute myocardial infarctions occurring in young male athletes abusing anabolic steroids. The effects of treatment of male Guinea pigs with testosterone on the responses to U46619, a TXA2 receptor agonist, in the isolated perfused heart were determined. The maximum pressor responses of the isolated perfused Guinea pig heart to U46619 were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the Guinea pigs treated with testosterone compared to the controls. These results indicate that testosterone can enhance coronary artery vascular reactivity to TXA2.