Testosterone and vascular function in aging

Androgen receptors are widely distributed in several tissues, including vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Through classic cytosolic androgen receptors or membrane receptors, testosterone induces genomic and non-genomic effects, respectively. Testosterone interferes with the vascular func...

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Main Authors: Rhéure Alves Moreira Lopes, Karla B. Neves, Fernando S Carneiro, Rita eTostes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2012-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00089/full
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author Rhéure Alves Moreira Lopes
Karla B. Neves
Fernando S Carneiro
Rita eTostes
author_facet Rhéure Alves Moreira Lopes
Karla B. Neves
Fernando S Carneiro
Rita eTostes
author_sort Rhéure Alves Moreira Lopes
collection DOAJ
description Androgen receptors are widely distributed in several tissues, including vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Through classic cytosolic androgen receptors or membrane receptors, testosterone induces genomic and non-genomic effects, respectively. Testosterone interferes with the vascular function by increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and arterial thickness. Experimental evidence indicates that sex steroid hormones, such as testosterone modulate the synthesis and bioavailability of NO and, consequently, endothelial function, which is key for a healthy vasculature. Of interest, aging itself is accompanied by endothelial and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction. Aging-associated decline of testosterone levels is accompanied by age-related diseases, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, indicating that very low levels of androgens may contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction observed in these age-related disorders. Accordingly, testosterone replacement has been shown to have beneficial vascular and metabolic effects. In this mini-review, we briefly comment on the interplay between aging and testosterone levels, the vascular actions of testosterone and its implications for vascular aging. The use of testosterone to prevent vascular dysfunction in elderly is also addressed.
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spelling doaj.art-c8b962b6901f4357814b262ccd7efd602022-12-22T03:57:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2012-04-01310.3389/fphys.2012.0008922836Testosterone and vascular function in agingRhéure Alves Moreira Lopes0Karla B. Neves1Fernando S Carneiro2Rita eTostes3University of Sao PauloUniversity of Sao PauloUniversity of Sao PauloUniversity of Sao PauloAndrogen receptors are widely distributed in several tissues, including vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Through classic cytosolic androgen receptors or membrane receptors, testosterone induces genomic and non-genomic effects, respectively. Testosterone interferes with the vascular function by increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and arterial thickness. Experimental evidence indicates that sex steroid hormones, such as testosterone modulate the synthesis and bioavailability of NO and, consequently, endothelial function, which is key for a healthy vasculature. Of interest, aging itself is accompanied by endothelial and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction. Aging-associated decline of testosterone levels is accompanied by age-related diseases, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, indicating that very low levels of androgens may contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction observed in these age-related disorders. Accordingly, testosterone replacement has been shown to have beneficial vascular and metabolic effects. In this mini-review, we briefly comment on the interplay between aging and testosterone levels, the vascular actions of testosterone and its implications for vascular aging. The use of testosterone to prevent vascular dysfunction in elderly is also addressed.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00089/fullAgingEndotheliumTestosteronevascular smooth musclecardiovascular disease
spellingShingle Rhéure Alves Moreira Lopes
Karla B. Neves
Fernando S Carneiro
Rita eTostes
Testosterone and vascular function in aging
Frontiers in Physiology
Aging
Endothelium
Testosterone
vascular smooth muscle
cardiovascular disease
title Testosterone and vascular function in aging
title_full Testosterone and vascular function in aging
title_fullStr Testosterone and vascular function in aging
title_full_unstemmed Testosterone and vascular function in aging
title_short Testosterone and vascular function in aging
title_sort testosterone and vascular function in aging
topic Aging
Endothelium
Testosterone
vascular smooth muscle
cardiovascular disease
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00089/full
work_keys_str_mv AT rheurealvesmoreiralopes testosteroneandvascularfunctioninaging
AT karlabneves testosteroneandvascularfunctioninaging
AT fernandoscarneiro testosteroneandvascularfunctioninaging
AT ritaetostes testosteroneandvascularfunctioninaging