Effect of fetal hyperexposure to testosterone on cardiac tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury in male rats in adulthood

Cardiac function and resistance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury are affected by various factors including sex hormones, especially androgens and estrogens. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of prenatal testosterone exposure on cardiac tolerance to I/R injury in male rats during adulthood.

The hearts of male rats exposed to testosterone during the critical period of fetal development (experimental group) and also rats in the control group were isolated and perfused in a Langendorff apparatus. Values of hemodynamic parameters, including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), rate pressure product (RPP) and peak rates of positive and negative changes in left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt) were recorded using a power lab system. Generalized linear regression model and generalized estimation equation model were used for data analysis.

At baseline (before ischemia), adult male rats in the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher values of LVSP, LVDP, RPP and ± dp/dt, compared to the rats in the control group (P < 0.05).
After reperfusion, the values of LVSP, LVDP, RPP and ±dp/dt significantly decreased in the experimental rats compared to the rats in the control group (P < 0.05).

The present study showed that fetal hyperexposure to testosterone led to lower cardiac tolerance to I/R injury in male rats, in adulthood.