title: 17Beta-estradiol acutely improves endothelium-dependent relaxation to bradykinin in isolated human coronary arteries.
abstract: Improvement of endothelial function has been implicated in the cardioprotective effects of estrogens in women. In isolated human coronary arteries, we investigated whether 17beta-estradiol affects endothelium-dependent responses to bradykinin, an endothelium-derived vasodilator locally produced by endothelial cells. Concentration-response curves to bradykinin (0.03-300 nM) or nitroglycerine (0.01-1 microM) were obtained before and after 30 min of incubation with 17beta-estradiol (3 microM) or solvent control (ethanol 0.2% vol/vol). Incubation with 17beta-estradiol enhanced relaxations to bradykinin (from 43 +/- 6 to 83 +/- 3%, P < 0.0001) but not those to nitroglycerine (n.s.). Improvement of bradykinin-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation may represent a novel mechanism contributing to the cardioprotective effects of estrogen in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany. matthiasbarton@compuserve.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mügge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004958:Estradiol; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D001920:Bradykinin