Original Article

Protective effects of 17 beta-estradiol on endothelial function injured by oxidized low-density lipoproteins

Chang-Fu Peng, Yuan-Jian Li, Han-Wu Deng, Xiao-Ming Xiong

Abstract

AIM: To test the protective effects of 17 beta-estradiol against endothelial cell damages due to oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a principal component of oxidized LDL.
METHODS: After the tension was increased by phenylephrine, the effects of oxidized LDL or LPC on the vasorelaxation responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were investigated in the isolated rabbit thoracic aortas.
RESULTS: 17 beta-Estradiol attenuated the inhibition of vasorelaxation responses to ACh by oxidized LDL or LPC in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the protective effect of 17 beta-estradiol was partially attenuated by indometacin (10 mumol.L-1), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
CONCLUSION: 17 beta-Estradiol possesses protective effects on the endothelium against injury elicited by oxidized LDL or LPC, which may be related to its stimulation of epoprostenol production.
Keywords:

Article Options

Download Citation

Cited times in Scopus