Cross-sex hormonal replacement: Some effects over mitochondria

• Published in: The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 244; p. 106595
• Main Authors: Cardenas, Montserrat, Alvarez, Fabián, Cabrera-Orefice, Alfredo, Paredes-Carbajal, Cristina, Silva-Palacios, Alejandro, Uribe-Carvajal, Salvador, García – Trejo, José J., Pavón, Natalia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Cross-hormonal administration; Estrogens; Estrogens - metabolism; Estrogens - pharmacology; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Hormones; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Mitochondria; Mitochondria, Heart - drug effects; Mitochondria, Heart - metabolism; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Testosterone; Testosterone - pharmacology; Trans-sexual; Testosterone; Mitochondria; Hormones; Cross-hormonal administration; Estrogens; Trans-sexual
• ISSN: 0960-0760; 1879-1220; 1879-1220
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106595

Transgender is a term for people whose gender identity or expression differs from their natal sex. These individuals often seek cross-hormonal therapy to simulate the individual´s desired gender. However, the use of estrogens and testosterone has side effects such as a higher propensity to cancer, weight changes and cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone has also been linked with hypertension. Still, little is known about the outcomes and prevalence of metabolic perturbations in the trans community. Here we aim to analyze if cross-administering sexual hormones affects heart mitochondrial function. Mitochondria produces the ATP needed for heart function. In fact, different studies show that mitochondrial dysfunction precedes cardiac damage. In this work we used either female rats castrated and injected with testosterone or male rats castrated and injected with estrogens for 4 months. We performed an electrocardiogram, and then we isolated heart mitochondria to measure the rate of oxygen consumption, calcium fluxes, membrane potential, superoxide dismutase activity, lipoperoxidation and cytokines. We detected wide modifications in all parameters associated to cross-hormonal administration. •Hormones of the contrary gender lead to alterations in cardiac mitochondrial parameters.•These alterations might lead to serious cardiac mitochondrial damage.•Higher cardiac risk after this kind of hormonal supplementation could appear.