Effects of testosterone on endothelial function and intimal proliferation after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta

AIM: To investigate the effects of testosterone on endothelial function and intimal proliferation after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta. METHODS: 24 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups: control group (n=8, sham castration), hypotestosteronemia group (n=8,castration) and testosterone replacement group (n=8,castration +testosterone undecanoate intramuscular injection,14mg/kg). Abdominal aorta was injured with 3 mm PTCA balloon after testosterone undecanoate had been injected for three days. Two weeks later, blood samples were obtained for detection of plasma testosterone, lipids, metabolic product of nitric oxide (NO₂^-／NO₃^-), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA),and all the abdominal aorta were excised to be analyzed by computer. RESULTS: The intimal area of hypotestosteronemia group were significantly larger than that of other two groups(P＜0.01). plasma NO₂^-／NO₃^- and SOD levels were significantly decreased, while the total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL) and plasma MDA were significantly increased. No difference was observed between control group and testosterone replacement group in all parameters. CONCLUSION: Testosterone, at physiological level,had the effects of inhibiting the intimal proliferation and of protecting the endothelial function after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta.