title: Central and peripheral testosterone effects in men with heart failure: An approach for cardiovascular research.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome recognized as a health problem worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, patients with HF still have increased morbidity and mortality. Testosterone is one of the most researched hormones in the course of HF. Growing interest regarding the effect of testosterone, on a variety of body systems, has increased the knowledge about its mechanisms of action. The terms central and peripheral effects are used to distinguish the effects of testosterone on cardiac and extracardiac structures. Central effects include influences on cardiomyocytes and electrophysiology. Peripheral effects include influences on blood vessels, baroreceptor reactivity, skeletal muscles and erythropoesis. Current knowledge about peripheral effects of testosterone may explain much about beneficiary effects in the pathophysiology of HF syndrome. However, central, i.e., cardiac effects of testosterone are to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Viktor Čulić, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Center Split, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Željko
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Bušić
authors.affiliation: Viktor Čulić, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Center Split, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Čulić
keywords: Cardiomyocytes; Electrophysiology; Exercise; Heart failure; Testosterone; Vasodilation