Estrogen receptor-β mediates male-female differences in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy

Maryanne Skavdahl, Charles Steenbergen, James Clark, Page Myers, Tracy Demianenko, Lan Mao, Howard A. Rockman, Kenneth S. Korach, Elizabeth Murphy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

150 Scopus citations

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine the role of estrogen receptor subtypes in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy in mice. Epidemiological studies have suggested gender differences in the development of hypertrophy and heart disease, but the mechanism and the role of estrogen receptor subtypes are not established. We performed transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and sham operations in male and female wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking functional estrogen receptor-α [α-estrogen receptor knockout (α-ERKO)] and mice lacking estrogen receptor-β (β-ERKO). Body, heart, and lung weights were measured 2 wk postsurgery. WT male mice subjected to TAC showed a 64% increase in the heart weight-to-body weight ratio (HW/BW) compared with sham, and WT males have increased lung weight at 2 wk. WT female mice subjected to TAC showed a 31% increase in HW/BW compared with sham, which was significantly less than their male counterparts and with no evidence of heart failure. α-ERKO females developed HW/BW nearly identical to that seen in WT littermate females in response to TAC, indicating that estrogen receptor-α is not essential for the attenuation of hypertrophy observed in WT females. In contrast, β-ERKO females responded to TAC with a significantly greater increase in HW/BW than WT littermate females. β-ERKO females have lower expression of lipoprotein lipase at baseline than WT or α-ERKO females. These data suggest an important role for estrogen receptor-β in attenuating the hypertrophic response to pressure overload in females.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)H469-H476
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume288
Issue number2 57-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Heart
  • Lipoprotein lipase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Estrogen receptor-β mediates male-female differences in the development of pressure overload hypertrophy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this