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Modulation of Coronary Vascular Resistance in Female Rabbits by Estrogen and Progesterone

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The Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation: JSGI Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the roles of estradiol and various progestins on the regulation of coronary flow in female rabbits.

Methods

Ovariectomized adult female rabbits were treated with estradiol, with progesterone (or one of the following synthetic progestins: megace, norethindrone, or medroxyprogesterone acetate), or with both an estradiol and a progestin. Hearts were isolated and perfused at constant pressure by a modified Langendorff technique. Changes in coronary flow were determined at baseline and in response to direct infusion into the coronary circulation of NG-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase.

Results

Coronary flow rates were 40–50% greater in hearts of animals treated with estradiol than in control hearts of animals not treated with the hormone. Treatment of the animals with progestin alone had little effect on coronary flow. However, when administered with estradiol, it abrogated the estradiol-related increase in coronary flow. The increments in coronary flow evoked by estradiol were virtually abolished by l-NNA, an inhibitor of NO synthase. In hearts of animals treated with estradiol plus progesterone, l-NNA had no additional inhibitory effect on coronary flow to that of progesterone.

Conclusion

Estradiol decreases coronary vascular resistance (CVR) and hence increases coronary flow. Progestins attenuate this effect of estradiol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Reproductive Biology, and Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenuse, 44106, Clevelalnd, OH, USA

    George I. Gorodeski MD, PhD, Tianen Yang PhD, Matthew N. Levy MD, James Goldfarb MD & Wulf H. Utian MD, PhD

  2. Division of Investigative Medicine, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    George I. Gorodeski MD, PhD, Tianen Yang PhD, Matthew N. Levy MD, James Goldfarb MD & Wulf H. Utian MD, PhD

Authors
  1. George I. Gorodeski MD, PhD
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  2. Tianen Yang PhD
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  3. Matthew N. Levy MD
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  4. James Goldfarb MD
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  5. Wulf H. Utian MD, PhD
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Additional information

This study was supported by a grant fromt Noven Pharmacesuticals. The authors thank Frank Walters and Herrick Finkelstein for their excellent technical assistance.

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Gorodeski, G.I., Yang, T., Levy, M.N. et al. Modulation of Coronary Vascular Resistance in Female Rabbits by Estrogen and Progesterone. Reprod. Sci. 5, 197–202 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1177/107155769800500407

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