HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Blanco-Rivero, J. Articles by Ferrer, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Blanco-Rivero, J. Articles by Ferrer, M.

Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to M Ferrer; Email: mercedes.ferrer{at}uam.es)

This study examines the effect of male sex hormones on the release, metabolism and function of endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) in rat aorta. Aortic segments from orchidectomized and control male Sprague–Dawley rats were used to measure eNO synthase (eNOS) expression, nitric oxide (NO) release, acetylcholine (ACh)- and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and activity. eNOS expression as well as basal and ACh-induced NO release were similar in arteries from both groups of rats. Basal superoxide anion production was similar in arteries from both groups, while ACh-induced superoxide anion formation was greater in arteries from orchidectomized than control rats. Orchidectomy increased the vasodilator effect induced by ACh, but did not alter that induced by SNP. SOD, a superoxide anion scavenger, did not modify the SNP-induced relaxation in aortas from control or orchidectomized rats. The membrane-permeable mimetic of SOD, tempol, increased the SNP-induced relaxation more in aortas from orchidectomized than control rats. The effect of endogenous SOD inhibitor, diethyl-dithiocarbamate, reduced the relaxation induced by SNP in segments from both groups of rats. The expression and activity of Cu/Zn-SOD were greater in aortas from orchidectomized than control rats. These data show that endogenous male sex hormone deprivation altered neither eNOS expression nor eNO release, while it increased the expression and activity of Cu/Zn-SOD. However, the predominant vascular effect of orchidectomy is to increase NO metabolism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Martorell, A. Sagredo, R. Aras-Lopez, G. Balfagon, and M. Ferrer Ovariectomy increases the formation of prostanoids and modulates their role in acetylcholine-induced relaxation and nitric oxide release in the rat aorta Cardiovasc Res, November 1, 2009; 84(2): 300 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L del Campo, A Sagredo, R Aras-Lopez, G Balfagon, and M Ferrer Orchidectomy increases the formation of non-endothelial thromboxane A2 and modulates its role in the electrical field stimulation-induced response in rat mesenteric artery J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2008; 197(2): 371 - 379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Martorell, J. Blanco-Rivero, R. Aras-Lopez, A. Sagredo, G. Balfagon, and M. Ferrer Orchidectomy increases the formation of prostanoids and modulates their role in the acetylcholine-induced relaxation in the rat aorta Cardiovasc Res, February 1, 2008; 77(3): 590 - 599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]