Background
We documented the dependence of ethanol-evoked myocardial dysfunction on estrogen (E2), and our recent estrogen receptor (ER) blockade study, in proestrus rats, implicated ERα signaling in this phenomenon. However, a limitation of selective pharmacological loss of function approach is the potential contribution of the other 2 ERs to the observed effects because crosstalk exists between the 3 ERs. Here, we adopted a “regain” of function approach (using selective ER subtype agonists) to identify the ER subtype(s) required for unraveling the E2-dependent myocardial oxidative stress/dysfunction caused by ethanol in conscious ovariectomized (OVX) rats.
Method
OVX rats received a selective ERα (PPT), ERβ (DPN) or GPER (G1) agonist (10 μg/kg; i.v.) or vehicle 30 min before ethanol (1.0 g/kg; infused i.v. over 30 min) or saline, and the hemodynamic recording continued for additional 60 min. Thereafter, left ventricular tissue was collected for conducting ex vivo molecular/biochemical studies.
Results
Ethanol had no hemodynamic effects in OVX rats, but reduced the left ventricular contractility index, dP/dtmax, and MAP after acute ERα (PPT) or ERβ (DPN) activation. These responses were associated with increases in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and eNOS, and in ROS and MDA levels in the myocardium. GPER activation (G1) only unraveled a modest ethanol-evoked hypotension and elevation in myocardial ROS. PPT enhanced catalase, DPN reduced ALDH2, while G1 had no effect on the activity of either enzyme, and none of the agonists influenced ADH or CYP2E1 activities in the myocardium. Blood ethanol concentration (96.0 mg/dL) was significantly reduced following ERα (59.8 mg/dL) or ERβ (62.9 mg/dL), but not GPER (100.3 mg/dL), activation in ethanol-treated OVX rats.
Conclusions
ERα and ERβ play major roles in the E2-dependent myocardial dysfunction caused by ethanol by promoting combined accumulation of cardiotoxic (ROS and MDA) and cardio-depressant (NOS-derived NO) molecules in female myocardium.