Horm Metab Res 2001; 33(11): 645-652
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18689
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Gender Differences in the Vasomotor Effects of Different Steroid Hormones in Rat Pulmonary and Coronary Arteries

K. M. English 1 , R. D. Jones 2 , T. H. Jones 2 , A. H. Morice 3 , K. S. Channer 1
  • 1 Department of Cardiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
  • 2 Department of Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Sheffield, UK
  • 3 Academic Department of Medicine, University of Hull, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 December 2001 (online)

It is well recognised that oestrogens possess vasodilatory properties, and similar responses to testosterone have been demonstrated. However, vasomotor effects of other steroid hormones have not been well described. Direct comparisons of the relative vasoactivity of different steroid hormones in different vascular beds in male and female genders have not been made. Coronary and pulmonary arteries from adult Wistar rats were mounted in a wire myograph, loaded to 100 and 17 mmHg respectively, maximally pre-contracted with 1 × 10-4 M prostaglandin-F-2-α, and dose response curves to 1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-3 or 3 × 10-3 M of 17β-oestradiol, testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol dissolved in water were constructed. Addition of each steroid hormone caused acute, dose dependent dilatation in coronary and pulmonary vessels. In coronary arteries the order of activity was testosterone > progesterone > 17β-oestradiol > cortisol, p < 0.001. In pulmonary arteries, the order of activity was progesterone > testosterone > cortisol > 17β-oestradiol, p < 0.001. Pulmonary arteries from male animals were more sensitive to the effects of testosterone than those from female animals, p = 0.003, whereas coronary arteries from female animals were more sensitive to the effects of 17β-oestradiol than those from male animals, p < 0.001. We have demonstrated significant differences in the in vitro vasomotor effects of different steroid hormones in two distinct vascular beds. Gender differences in vasomotor responses to steroid hormones may play a role in the aetiology of vasospastic diseases.

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Dr. Kevin S. Channer

Department of Cardiology
Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Glossop Road
Sheffield S10 2JF
UK


Phone: + 44 (114) 271 34 73

Fax: + 44 (114) 271 20 42

Email: kevin.channer@csuh.nhs.uk

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