Important differences exist between women and men with regard to cardiovascular disease. Sex differences have been reported in left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac remodeling with aging, arrhythmogenic activity, and post-infarct myocardial salvage. The molecular bases for sex-related differences in myocardial disease and response to steroids are poorly understood.
According to this study, ion channel genes (potassium)
are differently expressed between the genders.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/wuis-gpc012413.php
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3adoi%2f10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0054635
Other literature:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/dumc-sac031113.php
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-women-heart-disease-tied-small.html
http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/04/28/37833.aspx
http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/6597
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/uom-amb042707.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081012121314.htm
http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news472501
Regards,
Joachim
Sex differences in cardiac susceptibility to ischaemic injury has been recognised for a long time. A comprehensive series of studies have reported that this may be due to differences in the cardiac expression and function of cardio-protective genes, such as PKC epsilon. Interestingly, such conditions may be programmed in utero. Further reading:
Review: Giussani, D.A. & Davidge, S.T. (2013). Developmental programming of cardiovascular disease by prenatal hypoxia. J DoHAD 4(5), 328–337.
Li GXY, Estrella JL, Ducsay CA, Gilbert RD, Zhang L. Effect of fetal hypoxia on heart
susceptibility to ischemia and reperfusion injury in the adult rat. J Soc Gynecol Investig
2003;10:265–274.
Xue Q, Zhang L. Prenatal hypoxia causes a sex-dependent increase in heart susceptibility
to ischemia and reperfusion injury in adult male offspring: role of PKC1.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2009;330:624–632.
Patterson AJ, Chen M, Xue Q, Xiao D, Zhang L. Chronic prenatal hypoxia induces
epigenetic programming of PKC1 gene repression in rat hearts. Circ Res 2010;107:
365–373.
Check on our recent small study results
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259438918_Relative_hyperandrogenemia_in_central_obesity_as_possible_predictor_of_coronary_artery_disease_in_postmenopausal_women?ev=prf_pub
Article Relative hyperandrogenemia in central obesity as possible pr...
And I completely agree that estrogens act similar as calcium channel blockers
Also I would recommend the following references with particular insight on hormone replacement therapy in menopause and cardiovascular risk in women:
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3. Elevated arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis / H. Sumino, S. Ichikawa, S. Kasama [et al.] // Maturitas. – 2006. – Vol. 55. – Р. 212–218.
4. Eric Levens. Current opinions and understandings of menopausal women about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — The University of Florida experience / Levens Eric, R. Stan Williams // American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. – 2004. – Vol. 191, № 2. – Р. 641-646.
5. Estrogen plus progestin and the risk of coronary heart disease / Manson J.E., Hsia J., Johnson K.C. [et al.] // N Engl J Med. – 2003. – Vol. 349. – P. 523-534.
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16. Lifestyle intervention and coronary heart disease risk factor changes over 18 months in postmenopausal women: the Women On the Move through Activity and Nutrition (WOMAN study) clinical trial / L.H. Kuller, L.S. Kinzel, K.K. Pettee [et al.] // J Womens Health. – 2006. – Vol. 15, №8. – Р. 962-974.
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Difference in Ito current is protective: https://circ.ahajournals.org/content/106/15/2004.full
This is quite true that endogenous estrogens protect female hearts and vessels prior to onset of menopause, they act as vasodilators, similarly to calcium channel blockers, have favorable effect on lipid metabolism and coagulation. But as for the application of HRT for primary or secondary prevention of CVD, it remains questioable due to the results of recent studies like HERS, WHI, PEPI, NHS, etc. which had demonstrated that selective beneficial effects of HRT on CVS doesnt overweight the possible risk of certain types of cancer, like invasive breast cancer, though decreasing the risk of colon cancer. Besides, HRT increses the overall risk of arterial and venous thrombosis in patients with trombophillia, EVTET trial.
Estrogens are known to be positive modulators of endothelial NOS, promoting increases in NO bioavailability, which would be vasculoprotective promoting myocardial perfusion.