Cor Vasa 2021, 63(3):351-358 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2021.023

(Sex differences in cardiac tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury - the role of mitochondria)

Bohuslav Ošťádal^a, Zdeněk Drahota^a, Petr Ošťádal^b, Jan Neckář^a

^a Fyziologický ústav AV ČR, Praha

^b Komplexní kardiovaskulární centrum, Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha

Experimental and clinical studies have clearly demonstrated significant sex differences in myocardial structure and function under normal and pathological conditions. The best examples are significant sex differences in cardiac tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury: adult male hearts are more susceptible as compared to pre-menopausal female heart. The importance of these findings is documented by the increasing number of publications on this topic during the last years. Detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms, responsible for sex differences are, unfortunately, still not known; it has been stressed that estrogens are not the only factor involved. Recently, a new hypothesis has been developed, suggesting an important role of cardiac mitochondria. One is clear already today: sex differences are so important that they should be taken into consideration in the clinical practice for the selection of the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

Keywords: Estrogen, Heart, Ischemia-reperfusion injury, Mitochondria, Sex differences

Received: January 12, 2021; Revised: January 12, 2021; Accepted: February 7, 2021; Published: July 20, 2021  Show citation