ESTRADIOL DOES NOT INFLUENCE MYOCARDIAL SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITYIN RABBITS

The influence of sex steroids on myocardial superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was evaluated in rabbits. No sex differences in SOD activity were observed in male and female rabbits. Castration did not lead to any changes in SOD activity in either sex. Graded doses of estradiol t hat produced graded increases in uterotropic effect failed to produce any change in myocardial SOD activity. Results indicate that the benef icial effect of estrogen on cardiovascular disease and the sex differe nces in incidence of cardiovascular morbidity cannot be explained on t he basis of a direct action of estradiol on myocardial SOD activity.