Androgens’ effects on cerebrovascular function in health and disease

• Published in: Biology of sex differences Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1 - 35
• Main Authors: Abi-Ghanem, Charly, Robison, Lisa S, Zuloaga, Kristen L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 30-06-2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Androgens; Angiogenesis; Blood-brain barrier; Brain; Cardiovascular diseases; Cerebral vasculature; Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebrovascular diseases; Cognitive ability; Comparative analysis; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Enzymes; Estrogens; Females; Hormones; Hyperlipidemia; Kinases; Life span; Ligands; Males; Membrane permeability; Metabolism; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Review; Risk factors; Sex; Sex differences; Steroid hormone receptors; Stroke; Testosterone; Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia; Vascular diseases; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vasoconstriction; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 2042-6410; 2042-6410
• DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00309-4

Androgens affect the cerebral vasculature and may contribute to sex differences in cerebrovascular diseases. Men are at a greater risk for stroke and vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) compared to women throughout much of the lifespan. The cerebral vasculature is a target for direct androgen actions, as it expresses several sex steroid receptors and metabolizing enzymes. Androgens' actions on the cerebral vasculature are complex, as they have been shown to have both protective and detrimental effects, depending on factors such as age, dose, and disease state. When administered chronically, androgens are shown to be pro-angiogenic, promote vasoconstriction, and influence blood-brain barrier permeability. In addition to these direct effects of androgens on the cerebral vasculature, androgens also influence other vascular risk factors that may contribute to sex differences in cerebrovascular diseases. In men, low androgen levels have been linked to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, which greatly increase the risk of stroke and VCID. Thus, a better understanding of androgens' interactions with the cerebral vasculature under physiological and pathological conditions is of key importance. Keywords: Androgens, Cerebral vasculature, Stroke, Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia, Cerebrovascular disease, Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, Hormone therapy, Endothelial, Blood-brain barrier