Sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular ischemia susceptibility is mediated by heme oxygenase.

Abstract

We investigated the gender differences in heme-oxygenase (HO) enzyme, which produces endogenous vascular protective carbon monoxide (CO). We studied (1) the activity and expression of HO enzymes in the left ventricle (LV) and aorta, (2) basal increase in basal blood pressure provoked by arginine vasopressine (AVP) in vivo, (3) the heart perfusion induced by AVP, (4) the ST segment depression provoked by adrenaline and 30 seconds later phentolamine, and (5) the aorta ring contraction induced by AVP in female and male Wistar rats. We found that HO activity and the expression of HO-1 and HO-2 were increased in female rat aorta and LV. We demonstrated that the basal blood pressure and administration of AVP provoked blood pressure response are increased in the males; the female myocardium was less sensitive towards angina. Both differences could be aggravated by the inhibition of HO. The aorta rings were more susceptible towards vasoconstriction by AVP in males; isolated heart perfusion decrease was higher in males. The HO inhibition aggravated the heart perfusion in both sexes. In conclusion, the increased HO activity and expression in females might play a role in the sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular ischemia susceptibility during the reproductive age.

• Authors: Anikó Pósa, Krisztina Kupai, Rudolf Ménesi, Zita Szalai, Renáta Szabó, Zoltán Pintér, György Pálfi, Mariann Gyöngyösi, Anikó Berkó, Imre Pávó, Csaba Varga
• Journal: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (Oxid Med Cell Longev) Vol. 2013 Pg. 521563 ( 2013) ISSN: 1942-0994 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24163720 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Metalloporphyrins
• Protoporphyrins
• Vasopressins
• tin protoporphyrin IX
• Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
• Heme Oxygenase-1
• heme oxygenase-2

Topics

• Animals
• Aorta (drug effects, enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Disease Susceptibility
• Female
• Heart Ventricles (drug effects, enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Heme Oxygenase-1 (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Male
• Metalloporphyrins (pharmacology)
• Myocardial Contraction (drug effects)
• Myocardial Ischemia (diagnostic imaging, enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Perfusion
• Protoporphyrins (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Sex Characteristics
• Ultrasonography
• Vasopressins (pharmacology)