title: Low testosterone levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction in oophorectomized early postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The actual consequences of low testosterone levels in women remain uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess endogenous testosterone influence on body composition, vascular and metabolic function in recent postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 81 postmenopausal women under transdermal estradiol (E2) replacement therapy, 36 with bilateral oophorectomy (group O), and 45 controls (group C) through venous occlusion plethysmography, bioimpedance, DEXA, biochemical, hormonal, and inflammatory profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total testosterone level (TT) in group O was 11.0 (4.0-17.75) vs 23.0 (10.0-42.5) ng/dl in group C (P=0.001). Forearm blood flow, in ml/min/100  ml tissue, was lower in group O compared to group C at baseline (1.57 (1.05-2.47) vs 2.19 (1.59-2.66) P=0.036), following reactive hyperemia response (endothelium-dependent flow mediated dilatation, 3.44 (2.38-4.35) vs 4.3 (3.09-5.52), P=0.031) and following nitroglycerin (endothelium-independent dilation, 1.39 (0.99-1.7) vs 1.76 (1.15-2.0), P=0.025), with a positive correlation between TT and all parameters except for the reactive hyperemia response (r=0.233-0.312, P=0.036-0.004). The sVCAM1 levels were negatively correlated with TT (r=-0.320, P=0.005). E2 and other hormone levels, biochemical parameters and body composition did not differ between groups. Multiple linear regressions showed that the levels of TT, compared with other confounding variables, may explain the variation observed on endothelial parameters, with low explanatory power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of ovarian testosterone production in recent postmenopausal oophorectomized women was associated with deleterious effects on endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research on Vascular Biology (BIOVASC)Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524. Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa, BIOVASC, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHospital da LagoaJardim Botânico Street, 501, Endocrinology Sector, Health Ministry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil cicilianazr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ciciliana Maíla Zilio
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rech
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research on Vascular Biology (BIOVASC)Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524. Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa, BIOVASC, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHospital da LagoaJardim Botânico Street, 501, Endocrinology Sector, Health Ministry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research on Vascular Biology (BIOVASC)Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524. Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa, BIOVASC, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHospital da LagoaJardim Botânico Street, 501, Endocrinology Sector, Health Ministry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clapauch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research on Vascular Biology (BIOVASC)Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524. Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa, BIOVASC, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHospital da LagoaJardim Botânico Street, 501, Endocrinology Sector, Health Ministry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Coelho
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Research on Vascular Biology (BIOVASC)Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, São Francisco Xavier Street, 524. Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa, BIOVASC, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHospital da LagoaJardim Botânico Street, 501, Endocrinology Sector, Health Ministry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouskela
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010991:Plethysmography; D010992:Plethysmography, Impedance; D017698:Postmenopause; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004967:Estrogens; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol