Estrogen and Mitochondria: A New Paradigm for Vascular Protection?

Estrogen alters ROS production in cerebral blood vessels. Western blot for MnSOD (A) and mitochondrial H₂O₂ production (B). Levels of MnSOD increase in cerebral vessels of female rats treated with estrogen for three weeks, whereas mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production decreases. Mitochondrial superoxide production (C; measured using MitoSox dye) decreases in human brain microvascular endothelial cells treated with estrogen (10 nM) compared to vehicle-treated cells, whereas mitochondrial aconitase activity increases (D). Data for A and B used by permission of ASPET (11). C and D show unpublished data (Sunday, Razmara, Stirone, Krause, Duckles, and Procaccio).