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...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-04-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:07:59Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c8b962b6901f4357814b262ccd7efd60 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1664-042X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:07:59Z |
publishDate | 2012-04-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
record_format | Article |
series | Frontiers in Physiology |
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 |