title: Effects of testosterone on cytokines and left ventricular remodeling following heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of testosterone treatment on cytokines, ventricular remodeling in rats with heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley male rats with heart failure were divided into testosterone (n = 22) and placebo (n = 22) group. Pseudo surgery was performed on a third group of 15 male rats as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the placebo group, the testosterone group had a greater LVEF (P <0.05), a higher serum IL-10 level (P <0.05) and a lower serum TNF-alpha level (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA, MMP-9 mRNA and the myocardial hydroxyproline contents in the testosterone group were also lower than in the placebo group (P<0.05). The mortality rate in the testosterone and placebo group was 31.8% and 68.2%, respectively (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum testosterone levels were decreased significantly in male rats with heart failure. Testosterone treatment diminishes the imbalance between interleukin-10 and TNF-alpha, suppresses ventricular remodeling and improves cardiac function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Zhou
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Le-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D013739:Testosterone; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9