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Dehydroepiandrosterone protects against oxidative stress‐induced endothelial dysfunction in ovariectomized rats
Author(s) -
Camporez João Paulo Gabriel,
Akamine Eliana Hiromi,
Davel Ana Paula,
Franci Celso Rodrigues,
Rossoni Luciana Venturini,
de Oliveira Carvalho Carla Roberta
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.206078
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , ovariectomized rat , apocynin , nadph oxidase , enos , endothelial dysfunction , oxidative stress , dehydroepiandrosterone , estrogen , chemistry , phenylephrine , nitric oxide , hormone , nitric oxide synthase , blood pressure , androgen
Non‐technical summary It is well known that cardiovascular disease is more frequent in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. Moreover, it has been shown that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands, reduces during ageing. Its reduced plasma level has been related to increased prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. We show that DHEA treatment in ovariectomized rats, an experimental model of menopause, reduces blood pressure and improves vascular function. Furthermore, DHEA reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), correcting the reduced protein expression of Cu/Zn‐SOD, an antioxidant protein, and increased protein expression of NADPH oxidase, a pro‐oxidant protein. This work shows the potential effect of DHEA upon correction of endothelial dysfunction observed on oestrogen deprivation.