Vascular dysfunction induced by organ culture is dependent of male sex hormones (LB677)

Abstract

Androgens exert beneficial effects on vascular function by regulating the release and function of NO, prostanoids and reactive oxygen species. Since organ culture induces phenotypic changes in endothelial cells similar to those observed in some cardiovascular diseases, the aim of this study was to analyze the preventive role of male sex hormones on the vascular damage induced by organ culture. We used aortic segments from control and orchidectomized rats incubated for 20 hours at 37ºC in serum free culture medium. In this system we studied: i) the prostanoids and H2O2 production in the culture medium; ii) the hyperpolarizing mechanisms on the responses induced by acetylcholine (Ach) and by the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and iii) the effect of TXA2‐mimetic U‐46619 on vasodilator responses. The results showed that organ culture: i) increased the production of prostanoids and H2O2 in aorta from both groups of rats; ii) decreased the Ach‐induced relaxation in aorta from orchidectomized rats, while increased that induced by SNP and iii) decreased the Ach‐ and SNP‐induced responses after incubation with U‐46619 only in orchidectomized rats. These findings suggest a preventive role of male sex hormones on organ culture‐induced vascular damage. Grant Funding Source: Supported by grants (to M. F.) from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI0011406) and (to F. R. B.) from the Sociedad Española de Urología (2013‐14).