Circulating nitrite/nitrate levels increase with follicular development: indirect evidence for estradiol-mediated NO release

M Rosselli, B Imthurm, E Macas, PJ Keller… - … and biophysical research …, 1994 - Elsevier
M Rosselli, B Imthurm, E Macas, PJ Keller, RK Dubey
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 1994Elsevier
Ovarian dysfunction as well as impaired release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is
associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.
Estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women has a cardioprotective effect.
Hence, using follicular development (FD) phase of the menstrual cycle of normal women (n=
7) and of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (n= 16), we tested whether ovarian/sex
hormones modulate NO-release. Levels of nitrite/nitrate (stable metabolites of NO), 17β …
Abstract
Ovarian dysfunction as well as impaired release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women has a cardioprotective effect. Hence, using follicular development (FD) phase of the menstrual cycle of normal women (n = 7) and of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (n = 16), we tested whether ovarian/sex hormones modulate NO-release. Levels of nitrite/nitrate (stable metabolites of NO), 17β-estradiol (E), progesterone (P), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured in serum collected during FD-phase. Serum nitrite/nitrate levels increased (p < .01) with the normal, as well as hormonally-induced FD and correlated with increases in serum E levels (r2 = 0.67; p < .01), but not with P, FSH and LH (p > .05). Post-ovulatory increase in P and LH levels decreased serum nitrite/nitrate levels (p < .05), even in presence of high E levels. In conclusion, nitrite/nitrate increase with follicular development, an effect that is potentially mediated by E induced NO release.
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