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Tetrahydrobiopterin improves vascular endothelial function in ovariectomized rats

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Biomedical Science

Abstract

The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in the vascular response in ovariectomized rats. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) sham group: sham-operated female rats, and (2) Ovx group: rats were ovariectomized. Our results have shown that the plasma 17β-estradiol levels in the Ovx group at the end of the experiment were significantly lower than in the sham group. Vasoreactivity assessed with intact aortic rings indicated that the phenylephrine-induced vasocontractile response to aortic rings from the Ovx group was greater than that of the sham group. In contrast, the vasodilator responses to acetylcholine andL-arginine (L-Arg) in the sham group were significantly greater than in the Ovx group. Differences in vasoreactivity in denuded aorta between the two groups were not noted. Moreover, exogenous BH4 significantly restoredL-Arg-induced vasodilator responses in the Ovx group. However, this improvement effect was not found in the sham group. In addition, there were significant increases in superoxide anion production in aortic tissue and significant decreases in plasma nitric oxide levels in the Ovx group. Furthermore, BH4 contents in the aorta in the Ovx group were significantly decreased compared with the sham group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the impairment of vascular reactivity was found in the ovariectomized rats. The possible mechanism of this defect may have resulted from the deficiency of available BH4. Thus, this study may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of postmenopausal cardiovascular disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taiwan

    Kwok-Keung Lam

  2. School of Medicine, Taiwan

    Shung-Tai Ho

  3. Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Nei-Hu 104, PO Box 90048-504, Taipei, Taiwan

    Mao-Hsiung Yen

  4. Chu-Tung Veterans Hospitals, Taiwan

    Kwok-Keung Lam

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  1. Kwok-Keung Lam
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Lam, KK., Ho, ST. & Yen, MH. Tetrahydrobiopterin improves vascular endothelial function in ovariectomized rats. J Biomed Sci 9, 119–125 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02256022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02256022

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