title: The different role of sex hormones on female cardiovascular physiology and function: not only oestrogens.
abstract: Human response to different physiologic stimuli and cardiovascular (CV) adaptation to various pathologies seem to be gender specific. Sex-steroid hormones have been postulated as the major contributors towards these sex-related differences. This review will discuss current evidence on gender differences in CV function and remodelling, and will present the different role of the principal sex-steroid hormones on female heart. Starting from a review of sex hormones synthesis, receptors and CV signalling, we will summarize the current knowledge concerning the role of sex hormones on the regulation of our daily activities throughout the life, via the modulation of autonomic nervous system, excitation-contraction coupling pathway and ion channels activity. Many unresolved questions remain even if oestrogen effects on myocardial remodelling and function have been extensively studied. So this work will focus attention also on the controversial and complex relationship existing between androgens, progesterone and female heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimaging, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salerni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimaging, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Samanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Francescomarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Neurological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.affiliation: Helvetic Confederation IIHM International institute, Cardiologic Medical Center Manno, Lugano, Helvetia.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acquistapace
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana and Institute of Clinical Physiology-CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimaging, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallina
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D056966:Excitation Contraction Coupling / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015220:Calcium Channels; D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Androgen; cardiovascular remodelling; oestrogen; progesterone; sex hormones