[The heart and androgens]

Abstract

Beyond regulation of sexual function, male steroids play an important role in many physiological homeostasis systems, including the cardiovascular system. Via a specific androgen receptor, testosterone mediates cardiomyocyte trophicity both in physiological situations and in hypertrophy-related cardiac diseases. Androgens also regulate pathological levels of inflammatory cytokines such as Il-6 or TNF in advanced heart failure. They also mediate vascular resistance since coronary vasodilatation has been proven both in vitro and in vivo. Reduced free testosterone serum levels (age-mediated or premature coronary artery disease) promote a pro-atherogenic lipid profile expressed as lower serum HDL-cholesterol and up-regulation of triglyceride levels. This observation has relevant clinical implications for the evaluation and treatment of coronary artery disease. As most of normal and diseased cardiovascular system functions are influenced by androgens, further evaluation of their physiological implications should be undertaken as well as large-scale rigorous studies of the therapeutic implications in two disabling diseases, coronary heart disease and heart failure.