Understanding One Half of the Sex Difference Equation: The Modulatory Effects of Testosterone on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Am J Pathol. 2023 Dec 5:S0002-9440(23)00448-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.11.009. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDiabetes is a prevalent disease, primarily characterized by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Significantly higher rates of myocardial dysfunction have been noted in individuals with diabetes, even in those without coronary artery disease or high blood pressure (hypertension). Numerous molecular mechanisms have been identified, through which diabetes contributes to the pathology of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which presents as cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. At the cellular level, oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiomyocytes are triggered by hyperglycemia. While males are generally more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than females, diabetic males are less likely to develop diabetic cardiomyopathy than are diabetic females. One reason for these differences may be the higher levels of serum testosterone in males compared to females. While testosterone appears to protect against cardiomyocyte oxidative stress and exacerbate hypertrophy, its role in inflammation and fibrosis are much less clear. Additional pre-clinical and clinical studies will be required to delineate testosterone's effect on the diabetic heart.PMID:38061627 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.11.009

Source: Am J Pathol - December 7, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Mika'il Visanji Daniel E Venegas-Pino Geoff H Werstuck Source Type: research