title: Prenatal testosterone induces sex-specific dysfunction in endothelium-dependent relaxation pathways in adult male and female rats.
abstract: Prenatal testosterone (T) exposure impacts postnatal cardiovascular function, leading to increases in blood pressure with associated decreased endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in adult females. Endothelial function in males is not known. Furthermore, which of the endothelial pathways contributes to endothelial dysfunction and if there exists sex differences are not known. The objective of this study was to characterize the relative contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) to the impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in prenatal T-exposed adult males and females. Offspring of pregnant rats treated with T propionate or its vehicle were examined. Telemetric blood pressure levels and endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity were assessed with wire myography. Levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) and Kcnn3 and Kcnn4 channel expression were examined in mesenteric arteries. Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in T males and females than in controls. Endothelium-dependent acetylcholine relaxation was significantly lower in both T males and females. EDHF-mediated relaxation was specifically blunted in T males (Emax = 48.64% ± 3.73%) compared to that in control males (Emax = 81.71% ± 3.18%); however, NO-mediated relaxation was specifically impaired in T females (Emax = 36.01% ± 4.29%) compared with that in control females (Emax = 54.56% ± 6.37%). Relaxation to sodium nitroprusside and levcromakalim were unaffected with T-treatment. NOS3 protein was decreased in T females but not in T males. Kcnn3 expression was decreased in both T males and females compared to controls. These findings suggest that prenatal T leads to an increase in blood pressure in the adult offspring, associated with blunting of endothelial cell-associated relaxation and that the effects are sex-specific: EDHF-related in males and NO-related in females.
authors: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors: Vijayakumar
authors: V
authors: Chinnathambi
authors: Chandrasekhar
authors: C
authors: Yallampalli
authors: Kunju
authors: K
authors: Sathishkumar
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D043343:Testosterone Propionate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D001685:Biological Factors; D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; C496901:Kcnn3 protein, rat; C491575:Kcnn4 protein, rat; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D043343:Testosterone Propionate
keywords: EDHF; Kcnn3 channels; NO; NOS3; blood pressure; endothelium; prenatal testosterone; sex-specific; vascular function
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