Beneficial effects of tibolone on blood pressure and liver redox status in ovariectomized rats with renovascular hypertension

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013 May;68(5):510-20. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gls210. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Abstract

Estrogen deficiency is associated with aging and increases the incidence of metabolic syndrome and hypertension. In this study, the effects of tibolone, a synthetic steroid, on the cardiovascular system, liver lipid metabolism, and redox status were evaluated, in ovariectomized (OVX) rats with renovascular hypertension (two-kidneys, one-clip, OVX + 2K1C). This study encompassed direct measurements of mean arterial pressure , plasma biochemical analysis, liver lipid contents, and assessments of the mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation capacities. Additionally, the liver redox status was assayed. Tibolone significantly reduced the mean arterial pressure of OVX + 2K1C rats, albeit reducing total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. In the liver, although exerting an undesirable inhibition of mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation, tibolone reversed steatosis. Tibolone also improved the liver redox status: the reduced glutathione contents and the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were restored by this compound, which also reduced the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. So, tibolone reversed the main alterations caused by hypertension and estrogen deficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Hypertension, Renovascular / drug therapy*
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Norpregnenes / pharmacology*
  • Norpregnenes / therapeutic use*
  • Ovariectomy
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Norpregnenes
  • tibolone