Treatment with 17-beta-estradiol reduces superoxide production in aorta of ovariectomized rats

OBJECTIVE: Oxidant stress contributes to vascular injury and atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that estrogen treatment of ovariectomized rats decreases O(2)(-) by decreasing the activity of NAD(P)H oxidase and this reduction in O(2)(-) could have a vasculoprotective effect. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ovariectomized rats were treated with 17-beta-estradiol E2 (0.25mg) or oil placebo for 21 days. Aorta were removed for contractility studies and O(2)(-) production was measured by lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence (230 and 5microM). E2 treatment decreased basal O(2)(-) production but did not alter NADH or NADPH stimulated O(2)(-) production. Total p47phox and p47phox in membrane fractions of cardiac tissue were decreased, which suggests less activation of NAD(P)H oxidase in E2 treated rats. E2 did not change expression of other components of NAD(P)H oxidase in heart, lung, spleen and diaphragm. Expression of eNOS was also lower in E2 treated rats. E2 did not affect the contractile response to phenylepherine, dilation with acetylcholine, dilation with superoxide dismutase or constriction with l-NAME. This argues against changes in bioavailable NO. CONCLUSIONS: E2 decreases activation of p47phox and O(2)(-) production by NAD(P)H oxidase. This did not affect contractile properties of the vessel, but could still potentially alter cell signaling from oxidant increasing stresses.