Treatment with raloxifene and 17beta-estradiol differentially modulates nitric oxide and prostanoids in venous endothelium and platelets of ovariectomized pigs.

Oral treatment with raloxifene, a synthetic estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), or 17beta-estradiol (E2) increases risk for venous thrombosis in women. Acute application of either substance releases endothelium-derived factors from isolated femoral veins but it is not known how their chronic use affects venous functions or the interaction of platelets with veins. This study tested the hypothesis that treatment of ovariectomized animals with oral raloxifene or E2 would increase release of proaggregatory factors from venous endothelium and platelets.

T-cell responses during pig-to-primate xenotransplantation.

Unlabelled: Xenotransplantation using porcine organs may resolve a chronic shortage of donor organs for clinical transplantation if significant immunological barriers can be overcome. To determine the potential role of T lymphocytes in Xenograft (Xg) rejection, we transplanted transgenic hCD46 porcine hearts heterotopically into baboon recipients.

Methods: Recipients were treated to deplete anti-Gal antibody with a non-antigenic alpha-Gal polyethylene glycol polymer (TPC) (n = 2), TPC plus rituximab (anti-CD20) (n = 1) or were untreated (n = 1).

Differential effects of 17beta-estradiol, conjugated equine estrogen, and raloxifene on mRNA expression, aggregation, and secretion in platelets.

Changes in platelet functions could contribute to thrombotic risk associated with estrogen treatments. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that three clinically relevant estrogenic treatments affect platelet function comparably. Adult female pigs were ovariectomized and randomized to either no treatment or treatment with oral 17 beta-estradiol (2 mg/day), conjugated equine estrogen (0.

Effect of puberty on coronary arteries from female pigs.

Vascular function changes following loss of ovarian hormones in women at menopause and in experimental animals following surgical ovariectomy. Little is known about changes in vascular function during hormonal transition from sexual immaturity (juvenile) to sexual maturity. Therefore, experiments were designed to determine effects of natural puberty on vascular function in female pigs.

Endothelium-dependent responses in coronary arteries are changed with puberty in male pigs.

In humans, cardiovascular disease begins in young adulthood and is more prevalent in males than females. However, little is known about vascular function during transition to adulthood in males. The aim of this study was to define changes in production of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and coronary arterial responses during puberty.