In this work, we investigated the impact of testosterone deficiency and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) expression on lipoprotein metabolism and dietinduced atherosclerosis. CETP transgenic mice and nontransgenic (nTg) littermates were studied 4 weeks after bilateral orchidectomy or sham operation. Castrated mice had an increase in the LDL fraction (136% for CETP and 179% for nTg mice), whereas the HDL fraction was reduced (230% for CETP and 211% for nTg mice). Castrated mice presented 1.7-fold higher titers of anti-oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) antibodies than sham-operated controls. Plasma levels of CETP, lipoprotein lipase, and hepatic lipase were not changed by castration. Kinetic studies showed no differences in VLDL secretion rate, VLDL-LDL conversion rate, or number of LDL and HDL receptors. Competition experiments showed lower affinity of LDL from castrated mice for tissue receptors. Diet-induced atherosclerosis studies showed that testosterone deficiency increased by 100%, and CETP expression reduced by 44%, the size of aortic lesion area in castrated mice. In summary, testosterone deficiency increased plasma levels of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (apoB-LPs) and anti-OxLDL antibodies, decreased LDL receptor affinity, and doubled the size of diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions. The expression of CETP led to a milder increase of apoB-LPs and reduced atherosclerotic lesion size in testosterone-deficient mice. Gender differences in coronary artery disease (CAD) risk observed during the reproductive life period have been attributed to an attenuating effect of estrogen on atherogenesis (1, 2) and/or to a proatherogenic action of androgens (3, 4). However, the unexpected outcomes from the Women's Health Initiative and Heart and Estrogen Replacement Study trials (5, 6) and other controversies about the role of androgens (7) necessitate further investigation of the role of sex steroids, especially in sexmatched individuals. Androgen's effects on lipoprotein metabolism and risk of atherosclerosis are not unequivocal (7,8). Increased endogenous serum testosterone in men has been associated with a favorable lipid profile (9, 10), and low endogenous levels of testosterone have been associated with an atherogenic lipid profile (11, 12) and CAD (13,14). However, other studies have not found such relationships (15-18). Aromatization of testosterone into 17b-estradiol seems to be an important determinant of the beneficial effects of androgens observed in men (19,20) and mice (21,22). On the other hand, increasing endogenous androgen levels in women (23, 24), androgenic supplementation in men (3), in women (25), and in female animals (26,27), and nonmedical use of androgenic anabolic steroids (4,28,29) are associated with increased risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases.Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester (CE) from HDL to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (apoB-LPs) in exchange for triglycerides (TGs), thus remodeling HDL composition in the plasma of sev...