Effects of testosterone on cytokines and left ventricular remodeling following heart failure.
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.
Zhang
Yan-Zhou
YZ
Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Guangzhou, China.
Xing
Xiao-Wen
XW
He
Ben
B
Wang
Le-Xin
LX
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*
D016207:Cytokines; D013739:Testosterone; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9