Abstract
Testosterone deficiency has been correlated with increased cardiovascular diseases, which in turn has been associated with increased oxidative stress. Several studies have considered cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) as oxidative stress biomarkers, since some of them play pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory roles. We have previously described the cardioprotective effects of a dosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplemented diet on the aortic and mesenteric artery function of orchidectomized rats. The aim of this study was to investigate whether impaired gonadal function alters the formation of COPs, as well as the potential preventive role of a DHA-supplemented diet on that effect. For this purpose, aortic and mesenteric artery segments obtained from control and orchidectomized rats, fed with a standard or supplemented with DHA, were used. The content of the following COPs: 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, 5,6α-epoxycholesterol, 5,6β-epoxycholesterol, cholestanetriol and 25-hydroxycholesterol, were analyzed by gas chromatography. The results showed that orchidectomy increased the formation of COPs in arteries from orchidectomized rats, which may participate in the orchidectomy-induced structural and functional vascular alterations already reported. The fact that the DHA-supplemented diet prevented the orchidectomy-induced COPs increase confirms the cardiovascular protective actions of DHA, which could be of special relevance in mesenteric arterial bed, since it importantly controls the systemic vascular resistance.
Highlights
An important number of studies have shown a correlation between increased cardiovascular diseases with testosterone deficiency [1, 2]
The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of orchidectomy on the formation of the main oxysterols recognized as products of cholesterol autoxidation [36] (7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, 5,6α-epoxycholesterol, 5,6β-epoxycholesterol, cholestanetriol and 25-hydroxycholesterol) in the arterial wall of the aorta and mesenteric artery, as well as the possible preventive effect of a dosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-supplemented diet on cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) formation
Samples from control rats fed with the DHA-supplemented diet showed similar levels to those found in the control rats fed with the control diet
Summary
An important number of studies have shown a correlation between increased cardiovascular diseases with testosterone deficiency [1, 2]. It has been demonstrated that sex hormones regulate vascular function since sex hormones deprivation alters the release, function and cell signaling pathways of endothelial factors that could lead to vascular dysfunction. Previous studies from our research group have shown that orchidectomy increased ROS production.
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