PKG is involved in testosterone-induced vasorelaxation of human umbilical artery

Androgens in cardiac fibrosis and other cardiovascular mechanisms

“…Mechanisms available from experimental studies have been proposed to explain testosteroneinduced vasodilation. Testosterone may influence the tonus of vascular smooth muscle cells by modulating the activity of several ion channels such as the voltage-sensitive potassium ion channels, non-ATP-sensitive potassium ion channels, calcium-activated potassium ion channels and L-type calcium ion channels [8,26,30,[32][33][34][35]. Whether the effect on only one type of channel is dominant or a concomitant effect on several types of channels produces vasodilation remains to be elucidated.…”

Testosterone and the Cardiovascular System: A Comprehensive Review of the Clinical Literature

“…Experimental studies suggest that the most likely mechanism of action for testosterone on vascular smooth muscle cells is via modulation of action of non‐ATP‐sensitive potassium ion channels, calcium‐activated potassium ion channels, voltage‐sensitive potassium ion channels, and finally L‐type calcium ion channels. 53,57–61 Given that there is evidence for action of testosterone on both ion channels, it is possible that testosterone causes vasodilation by affecting both L‐type calcium channels and various potassium channels simultaneously. Further research is required to completely clarify this matter.…”

Testosterone and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Share the Same Pathway to Induce Vasorelaxation of Human Umbilical Artery

“…[6][7][8] The inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels by testosterone was also demonstrated in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) from distinct animals. 18 In these cells, the activity of BK Ca and K V channels is increased by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) because of PKG activation. Among these channels are: the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K ATP ), [11][12][13] the voltage sensitive potassium channels (K V ), [14][15][16][17] and the large-conductance Ca 2+ activated potassium channels (BK Ca ).…”

“…[8][9][10] However, several authors showed that androgens could activate different types of potassium channels in distinct arteries and induce vasodilatation. 18 Recently, Deenadayalu et al 19 also suggested that the relaxation induced by testosterone in coronary arteries is mediated by the PI3 kinase-Akt/NO/cGMP/PKG signaling cascade leading to the stimulation of BK Ca channels and the subsequent repolarization of VSM cells. 16,17 However, we recently observed that the stimulation of BK Ca and K V channels by testosterone is attenuated by an inhibitor of protein kinase G (PKG) in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC).…”