Relaxant effects of 17 beta-estradiol in the rat tail artery are greater in females than males.
To investigate whether sex differences contribute to the variability reported for acute effects of 17 beta-estradiol on vascular reactivity, the response to 17 beta-estradiol was compared in male and female isolated perfused rat tail arteries. 17 beta-Estradiol (10(-7)-10(-5) M) attenuated the contractile response to norepinephrine in female, but not male, arteries, but had no effect when the endothelium was removed. Relaxation to 17 beta-estradiol reached a steady state within approximately 15 min. This hormone appears to acutely relax pre-contracted arteries from females but not males by a non-genomic effect requiring an intact endothelium.
McNeill
A M
AM
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717, USA.
Duckles
S P
SP
Krause
D N
DN
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012737:Sex Factors; D013623:Tail / Q000098:blood supply; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D004958:Estradiol