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Horm Metab Res 2001; 33(2): 110-114
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-12405
Original Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice is Decreased by the Suppression of Endogenous Sex Hormones

G. von Dehn 1 , O. von Dehn 1 , W. Völker 2 , C. Langer 1 , G. F. Weinbauer 3 , H. M. Behre 4 , E. Nieschlag 3 , G. Assmann 1,2 , A. von Eckardstein 1, 2
  • 1 Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin, Zentrallaboratorium, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
  • 2 Institut für Arterioskleroseforschung an der Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
  • 3 Institut für Reproduktionsmedizin, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
  • 4 Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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To elucidate the influence of gonadotropins, endogenous sex hormones and testosterone on atherosclerosis, 4-week-old male and female apoE-deficient mice received either 100 µg subcutaneous injections of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist Cetrorelix every 48 hours or a subcutaneous implantation of a permeable silastic tube with 35 mg of testosterone. Control mice received either subcutaneous injections of saline, a silastic implant with saline, or no treatment. The animals were sacrificed after eight weeks of treatment; blood was obtained by cardiac puncture and the aorta was taken out and prepared. The suppression of testosterone led to an increase in atherosclerosis in both the sinus aortae and the ascending aorta despite increases of cholesterol in male and decreases of HDL cholesterol in female mice. Treatment with testosterone led to small but significant increases of cholesterol levels and atherosclerotic lesions in male mice. Female mice showed no change in lipids and fewer atherosclerotic lesions. In conclusion, the suppression of gonadotropins appears to have a moderate anti-atherogenic effect. The effect of testosterone appears to be either neutral or opposed by gonadotropins.

Key words:

Atherosclerosis - Animal Model - Testosterone - Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist

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Dr. A. von Eckardstein

Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin
Zentrallaboratorium
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster

Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33
48129 Münster
Germany


Email: E-mail:vonecka@uni-muenster.de

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