In vivo: |
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2015 Apr 1;308(7):H723-32. | Association of testosterone with estrogen abolishes the beneficial effects of estrogen treatment by increasing ROS generation in aorta endothelial cells.[Pubmed: 25637546] | Testosterone has been added to hormone replacement therapy to treat sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Whereas estrogen has been associated with vascular protection, the vascular effects of testosterone are contradictory and the effects of its association with estrogen are largely unknown.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study we determined the effects of testosterone associated with conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) on vascular function using a model of hypertensive postmenopausal female: ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats. Female spontaneously hypertensive rats were divided into sham-operated, ovariectomized (OVX), and OVX treated for 15 days with either CEE alone (OVX+CEE) or associated with testosterone (OVX+CEE+T). Angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced contraction was markedly increased in aortic rings from OVX compared with sham-operated rats. CEE treatment restored ANG-II responses, a beneficial effect abrogated with CEE+T. CEE treatment also increased endothelium-dependent relaxation, which was impaired in OVX rats. This effect was lost by CEE+T. Treatment of aortas with losartan (ANG-II type-1 receptor antagonist) or apocynin (NADPH-oxidase inhibitor) restored the endothelium-dependent relaxation in OVX and CEE+T, establishing an interplay between ANG-II and endothelial dysfunction in OVX and CEE+T.
CONCLUSIONS:
The benefits by CEE were associated with downregulation of NADPH-oxidase subunits mRNA expression and decreased reactive oxygen species generation.
The association of testosterone with CEE impairs the benefits of estrogen on OVX-associated endothelial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species generation in rat aorta by a mechanism that involves phosphorylation of the cytosolic NADPH-oxidase subunit p47(phox). | J Sex Med. 2015 Apr;12(4):966-74. | The efficacy of combination treatment with injectable testosterone undecanoate and daily tadalafil for erectile dysfunction with testosterone deficiency syndrome.[Pubmed: 25648342] | Both testosterone therapy and chronic treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) have positive effects on the histology of penile corpora and erectile function. However, few clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy with both testosterone replacement and chronic PDE5Is.
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination treatment with long-acting injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) and a once-daily tadalafil 5 mg for erectile dysfunction with testosterone deficiency syndrome.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Sixty patients were consecutively enrolled and followed for 36 weeks. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to group I and received 1,000 mg of parenteral TU on day 1, followed by additional injections at weeks 6 and 18 with on-demand tadalafil 10-20 mg during the 30 weeks of treatment. The remaining 30 patients received the same dose and schedule of TU as group I, and were prescribed once-daily tadalafil 5 mg during 30 weeks.
Serological tests were performed, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaires, and Global Assessment Question (GAQ) were administered to the patients.
Total IIEF and AMS scores were significantly improved during the 30 weeks of treatment in both groups. When IIEF scores were compared between the two groups, group II showed better symptom scores than group I at weeks 6 and 30. A similar pattern was observed when comparing AMS scores between the groups. At week 36, changes in IIEF and AMS scores that indicated worsened symptoms compared with week 30 were observed in both groups; group II showed better symptom scores than group I. On the GAQ, the ratio of patients reporting improvement in erectile function was significantly higher in group II than group I.
CONCLUSIONS:
The combination of long-acting injectable TU and once-daily tadalafil 5 mg produced a significant improvement in erectile function. Moreover, the improvement in erectile function was well maintained, even after the cessation of treatment. | J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun;95(6):2536-59. | Testosterone therapy in men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.[Pubmed: 20525905 ] | Our objective was to update the guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of androgen deficiency syndromes in adult men published previously in 2006.
PARTICIPANTS:
The Task Force was composed of a chair, selected by the Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee of The Endocrine Society, five additional experts, a methodologist, and a medical writer. The Task Force received no corporate funding or remuneration.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
We recommend making a diagnosis of androgen deficiency only in men with consistent symptoms and signs and unequivocally low serum testosterone levels. We suggest the measurement of morning total testosterone level by a reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test. We recommend confirmation of the diagnosis by repeating the measurement of morning total testosterone and, in some men in whom total testosterone is near the lower limit of normal or in whom SHBG abnormality is suspected by measurement of free or bioavailable testosterone level, using validated assays. We recommend testosterone therapy for men with symptomatic androgen deficiency to induce and maintain secondary sex characteristics and to improve their sexual function, sense of well-being, muscle mass and strength, and bone mineral density. We recommend against starting testosterone therapy in patients with breast or prostate cancer, a palpable prostate nodule or induration or prostate-specific antigen greater than 4 ng/ml or greater than 3 ng/ml in men at high risk for prostate cancer such as African-Americans or men with first-degree relatives with prostate cancer without further urological evaluation, hematocrit greater than 50%, untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea, severe lower urinary tract symptoms with International Prostate Symptom Score above 19, or uncontrolled or poorly controlled heart failure. When testosterone therapy is instituted, we suggest aiming at achieving testosterone levels during treatment in the mid-normal range with any of the approved formulations, chosen on the basis of the patient's preference, consideration of pharmacokinetics, treatment burden, and cost. Men receiving testosterone therapy should be monitored using a standardized plan. | Eur J Endocrinol. 2006 Jun;154(6):899-906. | Testosterone replacement therapy improves insulin resistance, glycaemic control, visceral adiposity and hypercholesterolaemia in hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes.[Pubmed: 16728551 ] | Testosterone therapy reduced the HOMA index (-1.73 +/- 0.67, P = 0.02, n = 14), indicating an improved fasting insulin sensitivity. Glycated haemoglobin was also reduced (-0.37 +/- 0.17%, P = 0.03), as was the fasting blood glucose (-1.58 +/- 0.68 mmol/l, P = 0.03). Testosterone treatment resulted in a reduction in visceral adiposity as assessed by waist circumference (-1.63 +/- 0.71 cm, P = 0.03) and waist/hip ratio (-0.03 +/- 0.01, P = 0.01). Total cholesterol decreased with testosterone therapy (-0.4 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, P = 0.03) but no effect on blood pressure was observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Testosterone replacement therapy reduces insulin resistance and improves glycaemic control in hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes. Improvements in glycaemic control, insulin resistance, cholesterol and visceral adiposity together represent an overall reduction in cardiovascular risk. | Circulation. 1999 Apr 6;99(13):1666-70. | Acute anti-ischemic effect of testosterone in men with coronary artery disease.[Pubmed: 10190874] | The role of testosterone on the development of coronary artery disease in men is controversial. The evidence that men have a greater incidence of coronary artery disease than women of a similar age suggests a possible causal role of testosterone. Conversely, recent studies have shown that the hormone improves endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary arteries in men. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acute administration of testosterone on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in men.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
After withdrawal of antianginal therapy, 14 men (mean age, 58+/-4 years) with coronary artery disease underwent 3 exercise tests according to the modified Bruce protocol on 3 different days (baseline and either testosterone or placebo given in a random order). The exercise tests were performed 30 minutes after administration of testosterone (2.5 mg IV in 5 minutes) or placebo. All patients showed at least 1-mm ST-segment depression during the baseline exercise test and after placebo, whereas only 10 patients had a positive exercise test after testosterone. Chest pain during exercise was reported by 12 patients during baseline and placebo exercise tests and by 8 patients after testosterone. Compared with placebo, testosterone increased time to 1-mm ST-segment depression (579+/-204 versus 471+/-210 seconds; P<0. 01) and total exercise time (631+/-180 versus 541+/-204 seconds; P<0. 01). Testosterone significantly increased heart rate at the onset of 1-mm ST-segment depression (135+/-12 versus 123+/-14 bpm; P<0.01) and at peak exercise (140+/-12 versus 132+/-12 bpm; P<0.01) and the rate-pressure product at the onset of 1-mm ST-segment depression (24 213+/-3750 versus 21 619+/-3542 mm Hgxbpm; P<0.05) and at peak exercise (26 746+/-3109 versus 22 527+/-5443 mm Hgxbpm; P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Short-term administration of testosterone induces a beneficial effect on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in men with coronary artery disease. This effect may be related to a direct coronary-relaxing effect. |
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