|
|
||||||||
INVITED REVIEW
Department of Physiology and Biophysics and The Center for Excellence for Cardiovascular-Renal Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Treatment of aging men and women with testosterone supplements is increasing. The supplements are given to postmenopausal women mainly to improve their libido and to aging men to improve muscle mass and bone strength, to improve libido and quality of life, to prevent and treat osteoporosis, and, with the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, such as sildenafil, to treat erectile dysfunction. The increased use of testosterone supplements in aging individuals has occurred despite the fact that there have been no rigorous clinical trials examining the effects of chronic testosterone on the cardiovascular-renal disease risk. Studies in humans and animals have suggested that androgens can increase blood pressure and compromise renal function. Androgens have been shown to increase tubular sodium and water reabsorption and activate various vasoconstrictor systems in the kidney, such as the renin-angiotensin system and endothelin. There is also evidence that androgens may increase oxidative stress. Furthermore, the kidney contains the enzymes necessary to produce androgens de novo. This review presents an overview of the data from human and animal studies in which the role of androgens in promoting renal and cardiovascular diseases has been investigated.
androgen receptor; oxidative stress; angiotensin II; endothelin; cytokines
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Q. Xu, C. C. Wells, J. H. Garman, L. Asico, C. S. Escano, and C. Maric Imbalance in Sex Hormone Levels Exacerbates Diabetic Renal Disease Hypertension, April 1, 2008; 51(4): 1218 - 1224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Iliescu and J. F. Reckelhoff Sex and the Kidney Hypertension, April 1, 2008; 51(4): 1000 - 1001. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Loria, V. Reverte, F. Salazar, F. Saez, M. T. Llinas, and F. J. Salazar Sex and age differences of renal function in rats with reduced ANG II activity during the nephrogenic period Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): F506 - F510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Keck, M. J. Romero-Aleshire, Q. Cai, P. B. Hoyer, and H. L. Brooks Hormonal status affects the progression of STZ-induced diabetes and diabetic renal damage in the VCD mouse model of menopause Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): F193 - F199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Iliescu, V. E. Cucchiarelli, L. L. Yanes, J. W. Iles, and J. F. Reckelhoff Impact of androgen-induced oxidative stress on hypertension in male SHR Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2007; 292(2): R731 - R735. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |