RESUMEN
Ischemic heart disease is an important cause of death for both sexes. Risk factors include dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia [Graunberry and Fonesca, 1999]. The incidence of ischemic heart disease is more in male than female in the reproductive period of life due to the well known protective mechanism of estrogen. The androgen role is still controversial. This study was designed to investigate the role of endogenous estrogen and androgen on cardiovascular risk factors in rats. Three groups of albino rats were used in this study. Each group is subdivided into subgroup A [males] and subgroup B [females]. Group I: is served as a control group. Group II were injected IP by anti-estrogen at a dose 1 mg/ Kg/ day. Group III were given anti-androgen orally at a dose 67.5 mg/kg/ day. Blood samples were collected by decapitation after 12 weeks of experiment and the following were estimated in animal sera: Fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL. Cardiovascular risk factors changes indicate that both endogenous estrogen and androgen have a protective role against ischemic heart disease, but estrogen is more protective in females and androgen is more protective in males. We conclude that both endogenous estrogen and androgen have an important protective role in ischemic heart disease in both males and females. A balance between estrogen and androgen in men and women is essential for this protective role. Any defect in estrogen / androgen balance increase cardiovascular risk factors