Gender-specific differences in the effects of testosterone and estrogen on the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are gender-specific differences in the effects of testosterone and estrogen on the process of atherogenesis. Thirty-two castrated male and 32 ovariectomized female rabbits were separated into 4 study groups of 8 males and 8 females each and received postoperatively a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. During this period either no hormones, estradiol (1 mg/kg body wt/week), testosterone (25 mg/kg body wt/week IMM), or estrogen combined with testosterone in above dosages were administered. Computerized morphometric analysis of the intimal thickening in the proximal aortic arch showed a significant inhibitory effect of estrogen in female and of testosterone in male animals (P<.05). In the group with combined treatment, the plaque size in both sexes was smaller than in the animals of the control group (P<.05). These differences were independent of changes in plasma lipid parameters. The incorporation of 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, associated with cell proliferation, into cells of the neointima was not significantly affected by the different hormone application regimens in males. In females, the incorporation rate was significantly lowered in the estrogen treated group compared with the control group (P<.05). Due to the observed differences in the sex specific atheroprotective effects of testosterone and estrogen, these data suggest that complex hormone interactions, which are independent of changes in plasma lipids, may play an important role in the process of atherogenesis.