Androgen Effects on the Adrenergic System of the Vascular, Airway, and Cardiac Myocytes and Their Relevance in Pathological Processes

Figure 4

Genomic androgen effects on the adrenergic system in the cardiac muscle (CM). The genomic AR signaling involves androgen crossing the plasma membrane, entering the cytoplasm, dissociation of chaperone proteins, and binding to the AR. Testosterone (T) stimulates the expression of the α₁-adrenergic receptor (α₁-AR) and β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂-AR), improving ionotropic activity and leading to the development of contraction without cardiotoxic effects. In addition, T increments the expression of the β1 adrenergic receptor (β1-AR), acutely improving the cardiomyocytes' function, but chronically leading to hypertrophy and heart failure.