Gender-Specific Alteration of Adrenergic Responses in Small Femoral Arteries From Estrogen Receptor-β Knockout Mice

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Abstract
Estrogen receptor-β knockout mice become hypertensive as they age, and males have a higher blood pressure than females. We hypothesized that the absence of estrogen receptor-β may contribute to development of cardiovascular dysfunction by modification of adrenergic responsiveness in the peripheral vasculature. Small femoral arteries (internal diameter 1-adrenoceptor agonist), which was accompanied by elevated basal tension attributable to endothelial factors. Contractile responses to the mixed adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine did not differ significantly between estrogen receptor-β knockout and wild type; however, β-adrenoceptor inhibition unmasked an enhanced underlying α1-adrenoceptor responsiveness in estrogen receptor-β knockout males. β-adrenoceptor–mediated dilatation was also enhanced in estrogen receptor-β knockout versus wild-type males. We suggest that estrogen receptor-β modifies the adrenergic control of small artery tone in males but not in females.