Effects of testosterone and estradiol on prostaglandin E synthesis by rat kidney medulla.

Abstract

Abstract-Whenprostaglandin E (PGE) contents in kidney medullary tissue were determined, we found that the PGE level was significantly higher in the male rats. The activity of PG synthetase in kidney medullary microsomes to synthesize PG E2 and the effect of treatment with sex hormones on the activity were also investigated. There was no significant difference in PG synthetase activity between male and female intact rats. Subsequently, ovariectomy and orchidectomy were carried out and corn oil (control group), testosterone (2.0 mg/kg) or estradiol (0.2 mg/kg) were given subcutaneously every other day for 2 weeks. Testosterone treatment produced a significant increase in the activity of PG synthetase in males, but not in females, when compared with control values. In contrast, estradiol treatment produced a significant decrease in PG synthetase activity in both sexes. These results suggest that sex hormones may play an important role in the regulation of PG biosynthesis in kidney.

The Effect of Biological Sex on Arterial Stiffness and Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Activity in Response to Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibition

“…Animal studies suggest that COX-2-derived vasodilatory prostaglandins play a more prominent role in arterial vasoregulation in females, 7 , 8 an effect that may be mediated by estrogen 9 , 10 and testosterone. 11 COX-2 inhibition in humans with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes abolished sex differences in the renal hemodynamic response to angiotensin II (AngII) challenge, suggesting an augmented female prostanoid-dependence and the possibility that prostaglandins contribute to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)-mediated sex differences. 12 However, whether this same phenomenon occurs in the systemic vasculature in a healthy population is unknown.…”