Gender and baboon aortic steroid hormone receptors.

To examine the potential of steroid hormones to serve as putative regulators of aortic cell function, we defined hormone receptor content and distribution in intact baboons. Total androgen receptor content in baboon aortic arch, thoracic arch, and abdominal aorta of young mature males was indistinguishable from that of proestrus females. However, 30% to 40% of male aortic androgen receptors were in the nuclear fraction, whereas all aortic androgen receptors of proestrus females were in the cytoplasmic fraction. Cytoplasmic fraction estrogen receptor content of aortic arch and thoracic aorta of intact males was indistinguishable from that of proestrus females. However, cytoplasmic fraction estrogen receptor content of abdominal aorta of proestrus females was significantly greater than that of males. Nuclear fraction estrogen receptors were not detectable in either male or proestrus female baboon aortas. To assess effects of endogenous estrogen on aortic progesterone receptor content, we quantified cytoplasmic fraction progesterone receptors and found that content of proestrus female aortic arch was not significantly different from that of males. However, cytoplasmic fraction progesterone receptor content of thoracic and abdominal aorta of proestrus females was significantly higher than that of males. To determine whether differences in aortic receptor content or distribution were associated with changes in aortic cell function, we quantified the activity of two enzymes of glycosaminoglycan metabolism. Aortic beta-glucuronidase activity was not different in male or proestrus female baboons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)