Post‐Pubertal Testosterone Implants Induce Hypertension in Female‐to‐Male Trans‐Sex Rat Model

Shawky, Noha M.; Cardozo, Licy Yanes; Reckelhoff, Jane F.

doi:10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.0r750

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In contrast, DHT treatment initiated in female Sprague-Dawley rats at 5 weeks of age resulted in elevated mean arterial pressure by 12 weeks of treatment [28]. The difference in initiation time is most likely not the reason for this discrepancy, as a study by the same group starting DHT post-puberty at 7 weeks of age also showed an increase in blood pressure [29]. Therefore, the discrepancy in blood pressure response between the current study and previous studies in rats could be due to either differences in treatment time or species differences in steroid metabolism [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Dihydrotestosterone Induces Arterial Stiffening in Female Mice

Horton

Wilkinson

Kilanowski‐Doroh

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background: Testosterone is the predominant sex hormone in men and is increased in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. These patients also experience an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and arterial stiffness. Since our previous work shows an important role for the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in arterial stiffness, we hypothesized that other hormones including androgens may impact arterial stiffness in female mice via regulation of GPER. Methods: The impact of the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (all 100 nM for 24 h) on GPER and ERα expression was assessed in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). To assess the in vivo impact of the DHT-induced downregulation of GPER, female ovary-intact C57Bl/6 mice were treated with silastic capsules containing DHT for 4 weeks, one with a dosage expected to mimic human male DHT levels and another to double the expected human concentration (n=8-9/group). Results: GPER mRNA was only decreased by DHT (P=0.001), while ERα expression was significantly suppressed by all hormones (P<0.0001). While blood pressure was not different between groups (P= 0.59), there was a dose-dependent increase in body weight (control 22±2 g, single dose 24±2 g, double dose 26±2 g; P=0.0002). Intracarotid stiffness measured via pulse wave velocity showed a more than two-fold increase in both DHT-treated groups (control 1.9±0.3 m/s, single dose 4.3±0.8 m/s, double dose 4.8±1.0 m/s). Histological analysis of aortic sections using Masson’s trichrome showed a significant decrease in collagen between the control group (24 ± 5%) and the double dose group (17 ± 3%, P=0.007), despite no changes in aortic wall thickness or smooth muscle content. Lastly, ddPCR showed that in vivo DHT treatment decreased aortic expression of both GPER (control 20±5, single dose 10.5 ± 5.6, double dose 10±4 copies/ng; P=0.001) and ERα (control 54±2, single dose 24±13, and double dose 23 ± 12 copies/ng; P=0.003). Conclusions: These findings indicate that testosterone promotes arterial stiffening and cardiovascular damage in female mice and is associated with decreased estrogen receptor expression. These data are important not only for polycystic ovarian syndrome patients but also women using testosterone for fitness, gender transitioning, or reduced libido.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Dihydrotestosterone Induces Arterial Stiffening in Female Mice

Horton

Wilkinson

Kilanowski‐Doroh

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In contrast, DHT treatment initiated in female Sprague–Dawley rats at 5 weeks of age resulted in elevated mean arterial pressure by 12 weeks of treatment [ 43 ]. The difference in initiation time is most likely not the reason for this discrepancy, as a study by the same group starting DHT post-puberty at 7 weeks of age also showed an increase in blood pressure [ 44 ]. Therefore, the discrepancy in blood pressure response between the current study and previous studies in rats could be due to either differences in treatment time or species differences in steroid metabolism [ 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dihydrotestosterone induces arterial stiffening in female mice

Horton,

Wilkinson,

Kilanowski-Doroh

et al. 2024

Biol Sex Differ

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Background Androgens are important sex hormones in both men and women and are supplemented when endogenous levels are low, for gender transitioning, or to increase libido. Androgens also circulate at higher levels in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and arterial stiffness. Since our previous work shows an important role for the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in arterial stiffness, we hypothesized that other hormones including androgens may impact arterial stiffness in female mice via downregulation of GPER. Methods The impact of the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (all 100 nM for 24 h) on GPER and ERα expression was assessed in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). To assess the in vivo impact of the DHT-induced downregulation of GPER, female ovary-intact C57Bl/6 mice at 15–16 weeks of age were treated with silastic capsules containing DHT for 4 weeks, one with a dosage expected to mimic human male DHT levels and another to double the expected human concentration (n = 8–9/group). Results In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, GPER mRNA was decreased by DHT (P = 0.001) but was not impacted by dexamethasone or medroxyprogesterone. In contrast, ERα expression in cultured cells was significantly suppressed by all three hormones (P < 0.0001). In control mice or mice treated with a single or double dose of DHT, a dose-dependent increase in body weight was observed (control 22 ± 2 g, single dose 24 ± 2 g, double dose 26 ± 2 g; P = 0.0002). Intracarotid stiffness measured via pulse wave velocity showed a more than two-fold increase in both DHT-treated groups (control 1.9 ± 0.3 m/s, single dose 4.3 ± 0.8 m/s, double dose 4.8 ± 1.0 m/s). This increase in arterial stiffness occurred independent of changes in blood pressure (P = 0.59). Histological analysis of aortic sections using Masson’s trichrome showed a significant decrease in collagen between the control group (24 ± 5%) and the double dose group (17 ± 3%, P = 0.007), despite no changes in aortic wall thickness or smooth muscle content. Lastly, ddPCR showed that in vivo DHT treatment decreased aortic expression of both GPER (control 20 ± 5, single dose 10.5 ± 5.6, double dose 10 ± 4 copies/ng; P = 0.001) and ERα (control 54 ± 2, single dose 24 ± 13, and double dose 23 ± 12 copies/ng; P = 0.003). Conclusions These findings indicate that androgen promotes arterial stiffening and cardiovascular damage in female mice and is associated with decreased estrogen receptor expression. These data are important for transgender men, women using testosterone for fitness or reduced libido, as well as patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

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Post‐Pubertal Testosterone Implants Induce Hypertension in Female‐to‐Male Trans‐Sex Rat Model

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Dihydrotestosterone Induces Arterial Stiffening in Female Mice

Dihydrotestosterone Induces Arterial Stiffening in Female Mice

Dihydrotestosterone induces arterial stiffening in female mice

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