SEX HORMONE REGULATION OF LARGE ARTERY STIFFNESS IN MEN

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。心血管疾病（CVD）是男性和女性的头号杀手。越来越多的证据表明，男性睾酮水平的下降可能导致心血管疾病的发生。一个潜在的原因是睾酮水平的下降导致心脏周围的动脉“变硬”。这种动脉硬化导致心脏工作更辛苦，并可能导致高血压和动脉粥样硬化的发展。这项研究的目的是找出睾丸激素的减少是如何导致动脉硬化的。我们将探讨的一种解释是“氧化应激”的产生，这是一种可以破坏体内细胞和组织的分子。我们将要探讨的另一种解释是动脉扩张功能的丧失。我们希望这些初步的数据能够帮助我们理解睾酮的丧失是如何促进心血管疾病的发展的。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer in men and women. There is increasing evidence that the loss of testosterone in men may contribute to the development of CVD. One potential reason for this is that decreasing levels of testosterone have been shown to cause arteries surrounding the heart to "stiffen". This stiffening of the arteries causes the heart to work harder and can lead to the development of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to find out how the loss of testosterone causes arteries to stiffen. One explanation that we will explore is the production of "oxidative stress" which are molecules that can damage cells and tissues in the body. Another explanation that we will explore is the loss of functioning of the arteries to dilate. We hope that these preliminary data will be able to help our understanding as to how the loss of testosterone may contribute to the development of CVD.