Abstract
Male gender is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone being the main male sex hormone is therefore believed to be responsible for the deleterious effect of the male. However, there are recent studies showing that testosterone level is lower in patients with ischemic heart diseases, and testosterone treatment alleviates the symptoms. Earlier studies showed that functional androgen receptors are present in the heart and that testosterone acts directly at the myocardium. There is increasing evidence to suggest testosterone confers cardioprotection by direct action on the myocardium. Here, we review the recent literature on association between testosterone and myocardial ischemia in males, and the signal transduction mechanisms that mediate the action of testosterone in the heart. The studies reviewed in this article provide evidence that testosterone may confer protection via a varieties of mechanisms, which may be both genomic and non-genomic. Further studies are warranted to further delineate the integration of signaling mechanisms and to explore the possibility of using testosterone in the aging male population with ischemic heart diseases.
Keywords: Testosterone, myocardial ischemia, adrenoceptor, calcium homeostasis
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets
Title: Testosterone and Cardioprotection Against Myocardial Ischemia
Volume: 7 Issue: 2
Author(s): Sharon Tsang, Jing Liu and Tak Ming Wong
Affiliation:
Keywords: Testosterone, myocardial ischemia, adrenoceptor, calcium homeostasis
Abstract: Male gender is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone being the main male sex hormone is therefore believed to be responsible for the deleterious effect of the male. However, there are recent studies showing that testosterone level is lower in patients with ischemic heart diseases, and testosterone treatment alleviates the symptoms. Earlier studies showed that functional androgen receptors are present in the heart and that testosterone acts directly at the myocardium. There is increasing evidence to suggest testosterone confers cardioprotection by direct action on the myocardium. Here, we review the recent literature on association between testosterone and myocardial ischemia in males, and the signal transduction mechanisms that mediate the action of testosterone in the heart. The studies reviewed in this article provide evidence that testosterone may confer protection via a varieties of mechanisms, which may be both genomic and non-genomic. Further studies are warranted to further delineate the integration of signaling mechanisms and to explore the possibility of using testosterone in the aging male population with ischemic heart diseases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tsang Sharon, Liu Jing and Ming Wong Tak, Testosterone and Cardioprotection Against Myocardial Ischemia, Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets 2007; 7 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152907780830888
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152907780830888 |
Print ISSN 1871-529X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-4063 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Cardiovascular Risk Calculators and their Applicability to South Asians
Current Diabetes Reviews Mitochondrial and Nuclear Genes of Mitochondrial Components in Cancer
Current Genomics Dimensional Assessment of Hypochondriacal Fears and Beliefs
Current Psychiatry Reviews Alzheimer’s Disease is Associated with Increased Risk of Osteoporosis: The Chongqing Aging Study
Current Alzheimer Research QT Prolongation and Anticancer Drugs: Is it a Cardiologist’s Worry? The Oncologist’s Point of View
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Atherosclerosis and Inflammation: Insight from Carotid and Intracoronary Ultrasound Studies
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nothing But Stress – The Interplay of Angiotensin II, Inflammation, Hypertension and Atherosclerosis: Implications for Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Statins, Mevalonate Pathway and its Intermediate Products in Placental Development and Preeclampsia
Current Molecular Pharmacology A Review of IGF1 Signaling and IGF1-related Long Noncoding RNAs in Chemoresistance of Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets Reactive Oxygen Species in the Initiation of IL-4 Driven Autoimmunity as a Potential Therapeutic Target
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer: Ready for Routine Use?
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Inflammation, Sleep, Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease.
Current Vascular Pharmacology Catheter Ablation of Lone Atrial Fibrillation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Discharge Interventions and Modifiable Risk Factors for Preventing Hospital Readmissions in Children with Medical Complexity
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Vasorelaxant and Antihypertensive Effects of <i>Mentha pulegium</i> L. in Rats: An In vitro and In vivo Approach
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Editorial [Hot topic: Infective Endocarditis (Guest Editor: Ioannis Starakis)]
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Evaluation of Serine Protease Inhibitors as Potent FVIIa-sTF Inhibitors in the Blood Coagulation Cascade
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Is Helicobacter pylori the Infectious Trigger for Headache?: A Review
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Chronic Heart Failure: Clinical Implications and Molecular Mechanisms
Current Cardiology Reviews Cellular Mechanisms for Diastolic Dysfunction in the Human Heart
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology