Ethinylestradiol does not enhance the expression of nitric oxide synthase in bovine endothelial cells but increases the release of bioactive nitric oxide by inhibiting superoxide anion production

摘要

Estradiol is known to exert a protective effect against the development of atherosclerosis, but the mecha- nism by which this protection is mediated is unclear. Since animal studies strongly suggest that production of endothe- lium-derived relaxing factor is enhanced by estradiol, we have examined the effect of estrogens on nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) activity, protein, and mRNA in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.