Abstract 252: 6ß-Hydroxytestosterone, A Cytochrome P450 1B1 Metabolite of Testosterone, Enhances Angiotensin II-Induced Pressor Effect in Male Mice

Abstract

Androgens have been implicated in the development of hypertension and castration minimizes the pressor effect of angiotensin (Ang) II. Previously we showed that Ang II-induced hypertension and associated pathophysiological changes are diminished in male cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 gene disrupted mice. Since CYP1B1 metabolizes testosterone to 6β-hydroxytestosterone (6β-OHT); this study was conducted to determine its contribution in modulation of Ang II-induced hypertension. Eight weeks old male Cyp1b1+/+ and Cyp1b1-/- mice were either castrated or injected with 6β-OHT (15 μg/g, i.p. every 3rd day) or vehicle (DMSO, 50 μl), infused with Ang II (700 ng/kg/min) or vehicle for 2 weeks, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail cuff. Castration attenuated Ang II-induced increase in SBP in both Cyp1b1+/+ (184 ± 6 vs. 129 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.05) and Cyp1b1-/- mice (150 ± 6 vs. 129 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.05). In Cyp1b1+/+ mice, 6β-OHT did not alter Ang II-induced increase in SBP (184 ± 6 vs. 180 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.05), but enhanced it in Cyp1b1-/- mice (150 ± 6 vs. 172 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.05). Castration improved endothelial dysfunction associated with Ang II-induced hypertension in Cyp1b1+/+ mice, as demonstrated by increased relaxation of the aorta to acetylcholine. No endothelial dysfunction was observed in Cyp1b1-/- mice given Ang II with or without castration. In Cyp1b1+/+ mice, 6β-OHT did not alter Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction, however, in Cyp1b1-/- mice infused with Ang II, 6β-OHT caused endothelial dysfunction. We have shown that Ang II-induced hypertension is associated with increased vascular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Cyp1b1+/+ mice, and this increase is attenuated in Cyp1b1-/- mice, as measured by dihydroethidium fluorescence. In both Cyp1b1+/+ and Cyp1b1-/- mice given Ang II, castration abolished the increased ROS production. In Cyp1b1+/+ mice, 6β-OHT did not alter levels of ROS produced by Ang II, however, 6β-OHT further increased ROS production in Cyp1b1-/- mice given Ang II. These data suggest that 6β-OHT, a CYP1B1 metabolite of testosterone, contributes to the hypertensive effect of Ang II in male mice. Moreover, CYP1B1 could serve as a novel target for the development of agents for the treatment of androgen-mediated hypertension.