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The Roles of Testosterone in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

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Sex Differences in Heart Disease

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease ((ABHD,volume 21))

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Abstract

Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious cardiac complication following acute myocardial infarction, which include myocardial infarct size expansion, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Sex hormone deprivation due to aging or other pathological conditions is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Several scientific research studies have been conducted to investigate the role of sex hormones in myocardial injury during cardiac I/R. Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men; it regulates male sexual characteristics, and controls muscle and bone mass. In addition, testosterone plays an important role in regulating LV function through multiple mechanisms, including those controlling cellular calcium homeostasis, regulating cardiac mitochondrial function and enhancing antioxidants. Findings from studies regarding the roles of testosterone on the heart during cardiac I/R are controversial; some have reported that decreased testosterone level could impair LV function, whilst others reported the benefits of testosterone deprivation during cardiac I/R. In this chapter, we include evidence regarding the effects of testosterone deprivation and exogenous testosterone administration on myocardial injury in terms of myocardial infarct size, LV function, arrhythmias and molecular alterations. Reports from in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo studies, and clinical reports are summarized and discussed. The contents of this chapter will explain the roles of testosterone during cardiac I/R in preventing cardiac complications. Insights from these reports may help to devise strategies to improve treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from Thailand Research Fund (NA: TRG6280005), the Senior Research Scholar grant from the National Research Council of Thailand (SCC), a NSTDA research chair grant from the National Development Agency of Thailand (NC), and the Chiang Mai University Center of Excellence Award (NC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Nattayaporn Apaijai, Siriporn C. Chattipakorn & Nipon Chattipakorn

  2. Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Nattayaporn Apaijai, Siriporn C. Chattipakorn & Nipon Chattipakorn

  3. Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Siriporn C. Chattipakorn & Nipon Chattipakorn

Authors
  1. Nattayaporn Apaijai
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  2. Siriporn C. Chattipakorn
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  3. Nipon Chattipakorn
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Correspondence to Nipon Chattipakorn .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

    Bohuslav Ostadal

  2. St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Naranjan S. Dhalla

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Apaijai, N., Chattipakorn, S.C., Chattipakorn, N. (2020). The Roles of Testosterone in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. In: Ostadal, B., Dhalla, N.S. (eds) Sex Differences in Heart Disease. Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58677-5_3

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