Jorge E Toblli1, Gabriel Cao, Adolfo R Casabé, Amado J Bechara. 1. Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina. jtoblli@hospitalaleman.com
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: This study evaluated the possible differences between an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a beta-blocker concerning their potential protective role on female external genitalia in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphological changes in the clitoris after antihypertensive treatments. METHODS: For 6 months, SHR received no treatment; SHR + ramipril (RAM), SHR + atenolol (AT), and control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats received no treatment. Clitorises were processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), anti-collagen I and III, anti-transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGFbeta(1)), and anti-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) antibodies. RESULTS: SHR + RAM and SHR + AT presented significantly lower blood pressure in both groups vs. untreated SHR. Compared with WKY, alpha-SMA was increased in the arteries and in the cavernous spaces of the clitoris together with a marked increase in wall/lumen ratio in clitoral vessels in untreated SHR. All these alterations were diminished in SHR + AT (P < 0.01). SHR + RAM presented differences with respect to SHR + AT in the reduction of these variables. TGFbeta(1) expression in the vessel wall from the clitoris and collagen I and III deposition in the interstitium from the clitoris in untreated SHR were significantly more (P < 0.01) than in WKY. While SHR + AT showed a mild decrease in these variables, SHR + RAM presented a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in TGFbeta(1) expression interstitial fibrosis and in both types of collagens. Positive immunostaining of eNOS in the sinusoidal endothelium from the clitoris was less (P < 0.01) in untreated SHR (3.4 +/- 1.3%) and SHR + AT (5.1 +/- 1.2%) than in SHR + RAM (17.2 +/- 1.6%) and WKY (15.9 +/- 1.7%). Untreated SHR and SHR + AT presented more surrounding connective tissue at the perineurium in the clitoris (P < 0.01) than SHR + RAM. CONCLUSION: ACE inhibition provided a considerable protective role on the female external genitalia structures in SHR by a mechanism that may be, at least in part, independent of the degree of blood pressure lowering.
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: This study evaluated the possible differences between an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a beta-blocker concerning their potential protective role on female external genitalia in spontaneously hypertensiverats (SHR). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphological changes in the clitoris after antihypertensive treatments. METHODS: For 6 months, SHR received no treatment; SHR + ramipril (RAM), SHR + atenolol (AT), and control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats received no treatment. Clitorises were processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), anti-collagen I and III, anti-transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGFbeta(1)), and anti-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) antibodies. RESULTS: SHR + RAM and SHR + AT presented significantly lower blood pressure in both groups vs. untreated SHR. Compared with WKY, alpha-SMA was increased in the arteries and in the cavernous spaces of the clitoris together with a marked increase in wall/lumen ratio in clitoral vessels in untreated SHR. All these alterations were diminished in SHR + AT (P < 0.01). SHR + RAM presented differences with respect to SHR + AT in the reduction of these variables. TGFbeta(1) expression in the vessel wall from the clitoris and collagen I and III deposition in the interstitium from the clitoris in untreated SHR were significantly more (P < 0.01) than in WKY. While SHR + AT showed a mild decrease in these variables, SHR + RAM presented a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in TGFbeta(1) expression interstitial fibrosis and in both types of collagens. Positive immunostaining of eNOS in the sinusoidal endothelium from the clitoris was less (P < 0.01) in untreated SHR (3.4 +/- 1.3%) and SHR + AT (5.1 +/- 1.2%) than in SHR + RAM (17.2 +/- 1.6%) and WKY (15.9 +/- 1.7%). Untreated SHR and SHR + AT presented more surrounding connective tissue at the perineurium in the clitoris (P < 0.01) than SHR + RAM. CONCLUSION:ACE inhibition provided a considerable protective role on the female external genitalia structures in SHR by a mechanism that may be, at least in part, independent of the degree of blood pressure lowering.
Authors: Biljana Musicki; Tongyun Liu; Gwen A Lagoda; Trinity J Bivalacqua; Travis D Strong; Arthur L Burnett Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2008-12-05 Impact factor: 3.802