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The heart: a target organ for estradiol
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 15, 1977
Summary
Estradiol concentrates in rat heart atrial cells, suggesting a direct protective effect on heart muscle. This mechanism may explain how cardiac glycosides, known for estrogen-like effects, impact atrial function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Estrogen is known to have protective effects on the cardiovascular system.
- Cardiac glycosides exhibit estrogen-like effects on classical estrogen target tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct effect of estradiol on atrial myocytes.
- To explore the mechanism by which cardiac glycosides may influence atrial muscle.
Main Methods:
- Autoradiography was used to study the distribution of tritiated estradiol in rat heart tissue.
- Comparison of estradiol concentration in atrial myocytes with known estrogen target tissues.
Main Results:
- Tritiated estradiol concentrated in the cell nuclei of rat atrial and auricle myocardium.
- This localization is similar to that observed in the myometrium of the uterus.
- Findings suggest a direct action of estrogen on atrial myocytes.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen likely exerts a direct protective effect on atrial myocytes.
- Cardiac glycosides may act on atrial muscle via a genomic, steroid hormone-like mechanism.
- This mechanism could underlie the observed estrogen-like effects of cardiac glycosides.