Aiidrojjen Inhibition of Atherogenesis in Pullets

THE higher incidence of coronary atherosclerosis in young male as compared with young female humans is well established as are similar sex differences in susceptibility in some other species. The administration of female sex hormones to cholesterol-fed cockerels has been reported to have beneficial prophylactic as well as therapeutic effects on coronary atherosclerosis. In one study reported by Pick, Stamler, Rodbard and Katz, comparison of plasma lipid concentrations and coronaiy lesions showed a close association between depression of the cholesterol-lipid phosphorus ratio and inhibition of coronaiy atherosclerosis. Reduction in cholesterol-lipid phosphorus ratios following administration of estrogens has been reported to occur in rats and in man as well as in cockerels. On the other hand, testosterone, given in a dosage adequate to reverse the feminizing effect of estrogen on combs, has been reported to have no effect on cholesterolemia, phospholipidemia, c/p ratios or atherogenesis in cholesterol-fed cockerels. Testosterone has also been reported to have no influence on lipids in a group of non-cholesteroli'ed cockerels and pullets over a 48-hour period. Both estrogens and androgens have been reported to inhibit the hypercholesterolemia and aortic atherosclerosis of intact female rabbits, but had no protective action either in intact males or spayed females. In a recent report, Fillios and Mann found that testosterone treatment led to a decrease in the cholesterolemic response before and after cholesterol feeding in both male and female rabbits, but was without effect following castration. Data obtained by Moskowitz and colleagues suggested a decreased incidence of coronaiy lesions