Effect of testosterone on atherosclerosis in rabbits

AIM: To investigate the action of testoster one on atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. METHODS: 37 male cholesterol-fed rabbits were divided into five groups: castration group: castrated rabbits without exogenous testosterone admin istration; testosterone Ⅰ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 0.25 mg·kg-1·d-1; testosterone Ⅱ group: castrated rabbits with e xogenous testosterone 2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1; testosterone Ⅲ group: cas trated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 12.5 mg·kg-1·d-1. The sham operation group was also set. Three months later, the levels of testosteron e, blood lipids (including TG, HDL-C, LDL-C), PAI activity, nitric oxide (NO) co ntent, endothelin (ET), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) in blood were detected. RESULTS: It showed that testosterone in castration group was the lowest. There was no significant difference of TG or LDL-C between castration g roup and the other four groups. HDL-C in castration group was lower than that in other four groups. NO content of castration group was lower than that in others , but PAI activity, ET and AngⅡ concentration were higher than that in other gr oups. CONCLUSION:Testosterone is a protective factor against atherosc lerosis in male rabbits.