Estrogen modulates responses of atherosclerotic coronary arteries

Effect of estradiol 17β upon coronary artery vasoconstrictor response to methylergometrine maleate in female menopausal patients

“…Volterrani et al have shown that estradiol 17h reduces peripheral vascular resistances and increases peripheral blood flow in menopausal women [24]. Williams et al have reported a reversal of the acetylcholineinduced vasoconstriction by estradiol 17h implants in ovariectomised monkeys fed with an atherogenic diet for 30 months [12]. Collins et al have shown that acute administration of estradiol 17h reverses the coronary constrictor effect of acetylcholine in menopausal women with coronary artery disease and that is gender dependent [21].…”

“…In vitro studies have shown that estradiol 17h has a relaxing effect upon precontracted rabbit and human coronary artery rings [14][15][16] and that estradiol 17h reveals calcium antagonistic properties [17,18]. In vivo studies have demonstrated that estrogens potentiate the endotheliumdependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine in animals [12] and in humans [19 -21]. Clinical studies have shown that acute administration of sublingual estradiol 17h improves exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in menopausal patients with coronary arteries [22] and reduces peripheral vascular resistances [23,24].…”

Increased circulating malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein levels in patients with ergonovine-induced coronary artery spasm

“…Protective effects of estrogen for women may be related to the gender effect. Previous study using estrogen-deficient monkeys showed that estrogen replacement therapy improved the response to acetylcholine in coronary arteries [22]. Also, habitual smoking [23] and drinking [24] are well-recognized predictors of coronary spasms.…”

Human endothelial dysfunction: EDCFs

“…Estrogens are known to protect the vessel wall both indirectly, by improving metabolic profile [6] and by a direct beneficial action on endothelial cells as demonstrated by the negative effects of acute endogenous estrogen deprivation following ovariectomy [18,55]. The progressive estrogen levels decrease, as occurring in menopausal women which is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, both in normotensive and hypertensive females [8,38].…”