Changes in aortic endothelium ultrastructure in male rats following castration, replacement with testosterone and administration of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the relationship between low androgen level and ultrastructure of vascular endothelium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A, normal rats with sham castration; group B, castrated rats; group C, castrated rats given testosterone (T) undecanoate; and group D, intact rats treated with 5alpha-reductase inhibitor. After 10 weeks of treatment or castration, rats in different groups were killed and serum T, free T (FT) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured. The aortic endothelia were scanned under electron microcopy and the Vascular Endothelium Structure Score (VESS) was computed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum T and FT concentrations of rats in group B were significantly lower than those of the other three groups (P < 0.01); DHT concentrations of group D rats were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) when compared with those of groups A and C. Rats in groups B and D rats (with low androgen levels) had obvious damage to their endothelial surfaces, which appeared crimpled, rough, adhesive and ruptured, and had high destruction of VESS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggest that low concentrations of T and DHT are associated with ultrastructural damage of the aortic endothelia in male rats.</p>

Protective effect of rosiglitazone on myocardium in diabetic cardiomyopathy of rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of PPARgamma ligands rosiglitazone on myocardium in diabetic cardiomyopathy of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat model of diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (STZ) for 6 or 10 weeks. In the treatment group the STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with rosiglitazone. The left ventricular muscle specimens were taken from treatment and control group; then were examined under transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Cardiac myofibrils of diabetic rats in control group were obviously fewer and broken. There were fewer and smaller dissolved mitochondria with incomplete membrane and mixed cristae and karyopyknosis. Myocardium of diabetic rats treated with rosiglitazone was markedly improved although their blood glucose levels were still high.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hyperglycemia can cause destruction of myocardial cell structure. Rosiglitazone has protective effect on myocardial cells of diabetic rats, which seems to be independent of blood glucose levels.</p>