Abstract The stem cell is a primitive cell that is capable of dividing to reproduce itself and can give rise to a selection of differentiated progeny. Stem cells are thought to be involved in or even main factors in many diseases. In postnatal humans, mesenchymal tissues have the capacity to regenerate from stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). It is currently thought that these cells will become the basis of therapy for many diseases. In the present study, a novel in vitro method was developed to examine human bone marrow derived MSC differentiation into osteoblast lineage, and to study the role of MSC in a variety of mesenchymal diseases. The ability of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts was investigated during aging. In addition, the interindividual variability in the osteogenesis of MSCs and in the osteoblastic response of MSC to estrogen and testosterone was studied. Furthermore, an ex vivo model using a human aortic valve microenvironment was developed to explore whether the extracellular matrix influences the osteoblastic differentiation of the MSC. Finally, the role of MSC in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) related congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) was studied. It was found that after menopause the osteogenic potential of MSCs does not decrease. It was also found that estrogen receptor (ER) alpha genotype confers interindividual variability of response to estrogen and testosterone in MSC derived osteoblasts. In addition, it was found that the non-calcified valves with living valve cells inhibited osteogenesis of co-cultured MSCs, whereas the calcified and devitalised valves promoted differentiation towards an osteoblastic lineage. Finally, MSCs from NF1-related pseudarthrosis showed altered NF1 gene expression, poor osteoblastic differentiation and bone formation. In conclusion, MSC can be easily isolated from the bone marrow and MSC has the capacity to regenerate tissue even at later stages of life. These results could help explain the contradictory effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on osteoblasts in vitro and might also provide new insights into understanding the differences in responses to hormone replacement therapy. It seems that adult stem cells from bone marrow undergo milieu-dependent differentiation to express phenotypes that are similar to cells in the local microenvironment. Finally, the NF1 gene was shown to have a role in bone development and remodelling.

No description available.

INTRODUÇÃO: A prevalência global da obesidade duplicou desde 1980, alcançando mais de 600 milhões de adultos obesos em 2014. Em paralelo a este aumento, alguns autores relataram uma tendência mundial de declínio da concentração de espermatozoides no ejaculado nas últimas décadas. Consequentemente, surge a hipótese da relação entre esses dois fatos temporais. Dentre todas as formas de tratamento da obesidade, a cirurgia bariátrica é a que apresenta melhores resultados em termos de perda de peso e melhor efetividade a longo-prazo. Há evidências na literatura que sugerem que a obesidade é capaz de alterar os níveis dos hormônios reprodutivos e função erétil. No entanto, seus efeitos sobre os parâmetros seminais clássicos e no índice de fragmentação do DNA espermático (IFD) são pouco estabelecidos. Além disso, o impacto da cirurgia bariátrica sobre estas alterações ainda não foi devidamente esclarecido. OBJETIVO: Identificar os efeitos da obesidade sobre a função erétil, hormônios reprodutivos, função testicular e IFD de homens obesos. Adicionalmente, avaliar se a cirurgia bariátrica é capaz de afetar estes mesmos parâmetros. MÉTODOS: Este estudo foi organizado em duas fases. Na primeira fase, indivíduos com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) menor que 30 kg/m2 e fertilidade comprovada foram comparados a pacientes obesos em programação para cirurgia bariátrica, com IMC maior que 35 kg/m2. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a dosagem de hormônios reprodutivos, análise seminal e aferição do IFD pelo método do cometa alcalino. O questionário do Índice Internacional de Função Erétil (IIEF-5) foi aplicado. Na segunda fase, parte dos indivíduos obesos foi submetida à cirurgia bariátrica e todos foram convocados para reavaliação em 6 meses. RESULTADOS: Homens obesos apresentam maiores níveis séricos de estradiol, LH e FSH, e menores níveis séricos de testosterona total (TT) quando comparados com homens férteis eutróficos. Além disso, apresentam piores parâmetros seminais, com redução do volume ejaculado, concentração seminal, número total de espermatozoides no ejaculado, motilidade total, motilidade progressiva e percentual de espermatozoides com morfologia normal, e elevação do IFD. Na fase 2, homens obesos submetido a cirurgia bariátrica apresentaram elevação dos valores de FSH, SHBG, TT e testosterona livre (TL), e redução dos níveis de prolactina sérica. Além disso, apresentam queda da concentração seminal e do número total de espermatozoides no ejaculado, e queda na fragmentação do DNA espermático. Controles obesos, por outro lado, não apresentaram alterações nas variáveis estudadas. Além disso, maior intensidade da perda de peso esteve associada com alterações mais importantes do número total de espermatozoides no ejaculado, e dos níveis séricos de TT, TL, SHBG e FSH. CONCLUSÕES: A obesidade é capaz de induzir alterações importantes dos hormônios reprodutivos, parâmetros seminais e IFD. A cirurgia bariátrica, entretanto, pode reverter os efeitos deletérios sobre os hormônios reprodutivos e fragmentação do DNA, mas pode trazer piora de parâmetros seminais em 6 meses de seguimento / INTRODUCTION: Worldwide obesity prevalence has duplicated since 1980, reaching more than 600 million obese adults in 2014. Parallel to this increase, several authors have reported a global tendency of ejaculated sperm concentration decline in the last decades. Therefore, comes to light the hypothesis that these two temporal trends are related. Among all forms of obesity treatments, the one that reaches the best results and long-term effectiveness is the bariatric surgery. Growing evidence in the literature suggests that obesity is capable of altering reproductive hormones levels and erectile function. Effects on classic semen parameters and DNA fragmentation index (DFI), however, have not been properly established. OBJECTIVE: Determine the effects of obesity over erectile function, reproductive hormones, testicular function, and DFI in obese men. Additionally, evaluate if bariatric surgery can also impact those parameters. METHODS: This study was divided into two phases. On the first phase, individuals with body mass index (BMI) lower than 30 kg/m2 and proven fertility were compared to obese men, with BMI higher than 35 kg/m2, waiting to be submitted to bariatric surgery. Reproductive hormones evaluation, semen analysis and evaluation of DFI by the alkaline comet assay were performed in all patients. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was used to assess erectile function. On phase two, part of the obese patients was submitted to bariatric surgery, and all were invited to 6-month revaluation. RESULTS: Obese men have higher blood levels of estradiol, LH and FSH, and lower levels of total testosterone (TT) when compared to eutrophic fertile men. Additionally, they present worse semen parameters, with a reduction in ejaculated volume, sperm concentration, total number of sperm in the ejaculate, total motility, progressive motility, and percentage of normal sperm, and higher sperm DFI. On phase two, obese men submitted to bariatric surgery showed higher FSH, SHBG, TT, and free testosterone (FT) levels, and reduction of blood prolactin levels. Moreover, they exhibited a reduction in sperm concentration and total ejaculated sperm count, and a reduction in sperm DNA fragmentation. Obese controls, however, did not experience changes in the studied variables. Finally, the intensity of weight loss was associated with greater changes in total ejaculated sperm count and in TT, TL, SHBG and FSH blood levels. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity can induce important changes in reproductive hormones, semen parameters, and DFI. Bariatric surgery, however, can revert the deleterious effects in reproductive hormones and DFI, but can result in worsening of semen parameters on 6-month follow-up

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome sistêmica, cuja uma das possíveis evoluções se caracteriza pela perda de massa magra e intolerância aos esforços, quadro conhecido como caquexia cardíaca (CC). Estudos realizados usando homens e ratos demonstram que na associação da IC com hipogonadismo há um pior quadro clínico e desenvolvimento de CC, levando a um mal prognóstico e aumento da mortalidade. Para o sexo feminino, tanto no período pré ou pós-menopausa, não é conhecida a associação de possível deficiência de hormônios sexuais, tampouco seu impacto no prognóstico, mortalidade e desenvolvimento de CC em pacientes com IC. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre o possível desenvolvimento de CC em ratas. 2) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre a produção de hormônios sexuais: Testosterona total, estradiol, FSH. MÉTODOS: Ratas da linhagem Sprague Dawley, com 60 dias de vida, foram divididas de acordo com os procedimentos cirúrgicos: Ratas intactas (INT) ou com ooforectomia (OVX), ratas com cirurgia fictícia (SHAM) do infarto do miocárdio (IM) ou cirurgia IM. A combinação destes procedimentos originou quatro grupos experimentais: INT+SHAM, INT+IM, OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM. Trinta dias após a OVX, amostras de sangue foram coletadas, para a dosagem hormonal e os animais foram submetidos à cirurgia de indução ao IM ou SHAM. Após oitos semanas, as ratas passaram pela avaliação ecocardiográfica. A partir desta, estabeleceu-se um corte de Fração de Ejeção (FE) <= 50% para definir o desenvolvimento de disfunção cardíaca a partir da realização do IM, constituindo dessa forma, os grupos INT+IM e OVX+IM. Com quatro semanas adicionais (totalizando 12 semanas após a indução do IM), houve a consolidação do quadro crônico de IC; então as ratas foram submetidas à avaliação hemodinâmica, da capacidade funcional e a nova coleta de sangue para dosagem hormonal. Após a eutanásia, os tecidos foram coletados para as análises morfológicas e histológicas. RESULTADOS: As ratas dos grupos OVX (OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM) não apresentaram ciclos ovarianos, demonstraram hipertrofia dos úteros e aumento do peso corporal final quando comparadas aos grupos INT (INT+SHAM e INT+IM), além de alterações na morfologia das glândulas adrenais - caracterizando o quadro de privação de hormônios ovarianos. As ratas dos grupos IM (INT+IM e OVX+IM) não tiveram alterações hemodinâmicas, contudo demonstraram reduzida capacidade funcional e piora nas variáveis ecocardiográficas (FE, FS, DSVE, TCIV) quando comparadas aos grupos SHAM (INT+SHAM e OVX+SHAM); as avaliações histológicas apontam valores de área infartada entorno de 40% e hipertrofia de septo nos grupos IM. Os animais não caracterizaram quadro de CC - caracterizada por diminuição do peso corporal, diminuição da densidade capilar na musculatura e atrofia das fibras musculares (m. sóleo) - após12 semanas de disfunção cardíaca / Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a systemic disease, which one of the possible progress is characterized by lean mass loss and intolerance to efforts, this framework is known as cardiac cachexia (CC). Studies in men and rats have shown that when HF is associated with hypogonadism it has a worse clinical condition and CC evolution, leading to a poor prognosis and increased mortality. For females, both in the pre menopause period than in the post menopause it is not known how the association of sex hormones deficiency with HF can impact the prognosis and mortality of female patients, as well as the development of CC. The objectives of this study were: 1) Evaluate the effect of HF on the possible CC development in female rats. 2) Evaluate the effect of HF on the production of sex hormones: Total testosterone, estradiol, FSH. METHODS: Female rats (Sprague Dawley strain, 60 days old) were divided according to the surgical procedures: intact rats (INT) or ovariectomy (OVX) rats with sham surgery (SHAM) of myocardial infarction (MI) or MI surgery. The combination of these procedures led to four groups: INT + SHAM, INT + MI, OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI. 30 days after OVX, blood samples were collected for hormone dosage and the animals have been underwent to surgery to the MI induction or SHAM. After eight weeks, the rats have gone through echocardiographic evaluation. From this procedure, it was established a cutting Ejection Fraction (EF) <= 50% to define the development of cardiac dysfunction from the realization of MI, constituting INT + IM and IM + OVX groups. With four additional weeks (totaling 12 weeks after MI induction), there was the consolidation of HF\'s chronic condition; female rats were subjected to evaluation of functional and hemodynamic capacity and a new blood collection for hormonal dosage. After euthanasia, tissues were collected for morphological and histological analyzes. RESULTS: The rats of the OVX groups (OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI) showed no ovarian cycles, demonstrated uterus\' hypertrophy and an increase in final body weight when compared to INT groups (INT + SHAM and INT + MI), changes in morphology of the adrenal glands - evidencing the situation of ovarian hormones deprivation. The rats of the MI group (INT + MI and OVX + MI) had no hemodynamic changes, but showed reduced functional capacity and deterioration of echocardiographic variables (EF, FS, LVSD, IVCT) when compared to SHAM groups (INT + SHAM and OVX + SHAM ); the histological evaluations indicate infarcted area values around 40% and septal hypertrophy at MI groups. The animals did not characterize CC - characterized by decreased body weight, decreased capillary density in the muscle and muscle fiber atrophy (m. soleus) - even after 12 weeks of cardiac dysfunction

Jiang, Jieying. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-186). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.II / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.III / ABSTRACT OF THESIS ENTITLED: --- p.VI / 摘要 --- p.IX / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Individual variations of blood sex steroid levels and their determinants --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Introduction to Sex steroids --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Androgens --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Types of androgens --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Androgens plasma concentration and relative biological potencies --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Androgen biosynthesis and metabolism --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2.4 --- Testosterone transportation in plasma --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.2.5 --- Measurement of free testosterone --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.2.6 --- The hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis and testosterone secretion --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.2.7 --- Androgen action --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.2.8 --- Androgen biological function and diseases in men --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Estrogen biological function and diseases in men --- p.12 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Factors influencing circulating sex steroid levels --- p.13 / Chapter 1.1.4.1 --- Genetic determinants affecting sex steroid levels --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2 --- Genetic variants in sex steroid metabolic pathway and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Epidemiology of HCC --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Etiological factors of HCC --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The male predominance in HCC --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Genetic predisposition to HCC --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- PART A STUDY: GENETIC VARIATIONS IN SEX STEROID METABOLIC PATHWAY AND ASSOCIATION WITH SEX STEROID LEVELS --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Candidate genes association with sex steroid levels --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Genes involved in androgen metabolism --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- SRD5A --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- HSD3B1 --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- HSD17B2 --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- AKR1C3 and AKRlC4 --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.2.5 --- AKR1D1 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Genes involved in estrogen metabolism --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- CYP19A1 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Other genes involved in estrogen metabolism --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Association of sex steroid related genes and blood concentrations of sex steroid levels --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.4.1 --- Genes involved in androgen metabolic pathway and association with sex steroid levels --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.4.2 --- Genes involved in estrogen metabolic pathway and association with sex steroid levels --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Aims of the study (Part A) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Study subjects and biological samples --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- TagSNP selection --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Genotyping of tagging SNPs --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Genotyping methods comparison --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Statistics --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.54 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Characteristics of study population --- p.54 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Replication study for the association of CYP19A1 --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Association of the SNP rs2470152 and rs2899470 with serum estrogen and testosterone levels --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Halotype analysis and haplotype association in the tertile groups --- p.61 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Haplotype construction of 3 SNPs --- p.63 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- SRD5A1 --- p.65 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Association of SRD5A1 and sex steroid levels --- p.65 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Haplotype analysis and haplotype association in the tertile groups --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- SRD5A2 --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- Association of SRD5A2 and sex steroid levels --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Haplotype association analysis of SRD5A2 in tertile groups --- p.76 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- HSD3B1 --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.5.1 --- Association of HSD3B1 and sex steroid levels --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- HSD17B2 --- p.80 / Chapter 2.3.6.1 --- Association of HSD17B2 and sex steroid levels --- p.80 / Chapter 2.3.6.2 --- Halotype association analysis of HSD17B2 in the tertile groups --- p.87 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- AKR1C4 --- p.89 / Chapter 2.3.7.1 --- Association of AKR1C4 and sex steroid levels --- p.89 / Chapter 2.3.7.2 --- Halotype association analysis of AKR1C4 in the tertile groups --- p.93 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- AKR1D1 --- p.94 / Chapter 2.3.8.1 --- Association of AKR1D1 and sex steroid levels --- p.94 / Chapter 2.3.8.2 --- Haplotype association analysis of AKR1D1 in the tertile groups --- p.99 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- AKR1C3 --- p.100 / Chapter 2.3.9.1 --- Association of AKR1C3 and sex steroid levels --- p.100 / Chapter 2.3.9.2 --- Haplotype association analysis of AKR1C3 in the tertile groups --- p.104 / Chapter 2.3.10 --- Overall association of polymorphisms in sex steroid metabolism genes and metabolites levels in blood --- p.105 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.106 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- SRD5A and sex steroid levels --- p.106 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- HSD17B2 and sex steroid levels --- p.110 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- "AKR1D1, AKR1C4, AKR1C3 and catabolic intermediates of sex steroids" --- p.112 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- HSD3B1 and sex steroid levels --- p.114 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- CYP19A1 and sex steroid levels --- p.114 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- PART B STUDY: GENETIC VARIATIONS IN SEX STEROID METABOLIC PATHWAY AND ASSOCIATION WITH HCC --- p.119 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.119 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Previous genetic association studies of HCC on sex steroid metabolic pathways --- p.119 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Previous genetic association studies of HCC in other pathways --- p.120 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- "Association of sex steroid related genes and other cancers, like prostate cancer" --- p.121 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Aims of the study (Part B) --- p.123 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and method --- p.125 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- "Study subjects, Genomic DNA extraction" --- p.125 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Tissue specimen and cell lines --- p.125 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- TagSNP selection --- p.126 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Genotyping of tagging SNPs --- p.126 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Statistics --- p.127 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Extraction of RNA and Reverse-Transcription-PCR --- p.128 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.130 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- SRD5A1 --- p.130 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- SRD5A1 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.130 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- SRD5A2 --- p.134 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- SRD5A2 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.134 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.136 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- HSD3B1 --- p.137 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- HSD3B1 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.137 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.139 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- HSD17B2 --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.4.1 --- HSD17B2 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.4.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.143 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- CYP19A1 --- p.144 / Chapter 3.3.5.1 --- CYP19A1 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.144 / Chapter 3.3.5.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.146 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- AKR1C4 --- p.147 / Chapter 3.3.6.1 --- AKR1C4 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.147 / Chapter 3.3.6.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.148 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- AKR1D1 --- p.149 / Chapter 3.3.7.1 --- AKR1D1 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.149 / Chapter 3.3.7.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.150 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- AKR1C3 --- p.151 / Chapter 3.3.8.1 --- AKR1C3 polymorphisms and risk of HCC --- p.151 / Chapter 3.3.8.2 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.152 / Chapter 3.3.9 --- mRNA expression study of the 5 α -reductase isoforms --- p.153 / Chapter 3.3.9.1 --- Expression of SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 mRNAin HCC patients --- p.153 / Chapter 3.3.9.2 --- Expression of SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 mRNAin prostate and HCC cell lines --- p.154 / Chapter 3.3.10 --- Overall association of polymorphisms in sex steroid metabolism genes and risk of HCC --- p.154 / Chapter 3.3.11 --- GMDR analysis --- p.156 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.159 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- 5 α-reductase and risk of HCC --- p.159 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- SRD5A2 --- p.160 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- SRD5A1 --- p.161 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Other genes and association with HCC --- p.162 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- HSD17B2 and risk of HCC --- p.162 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- "HSD3B1, AKR1C3, AKR1C4, AKR1D1 and risk of HCC" --- p.163 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- CYP19A1 and risk of HCC --- p.164 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Gene-Gene interactions associated with HCC --- p.165 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- CONCLUSIONS AND PROSPECT FOR FUTURE WORK --- p.166 / Chapter 4.1 --- Conclusion --- p.166 / Chapter 4.2 --- Future works and prospect --- p.169 / REFERENCES --- p.170

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome sistêmica, cuja uma das possíveis evoluções se caracteriza pela perda de massa magra e intolerância aos esforços, quadro conhecido como caquexia cardíaca (CC). Estudos realizados usando homens e ratos demonstram que na associação da IC com hipogonadismo há um pior quadro clínico e desenvolvimento de CC, levando a um mal prognóstico e aumento da mortalidade. Para o sexo feminino, tanto no período pré ou pós-menopausa, não é conhecida a associação de possível deficiência de hormônios sexuais, tampouco seu impacto no prognóstico, mortalidade e desenvolvimento de CC em pacientes com IC. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre o possível desenvolvimento de CC em ratas. 2) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre a produção de hormônios sexuais: Testosterona total, estradiol, FSH. MÉTODOS: Ratas da linhagem Sprague Dawley, com 60 dias de vida, foram divididas de acordo com os procedimentos cirúrgicos: Ratas intactas (INT) ou com ooforectomia (OVX), ratas com cirurgia fictícia (SHAM) do infarto do miocárdio (IM) ou cirurgia IM. A combinação destes procedimentos originou quatro grupos experimentais: INT+SHAM, INT+IM, OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM. Trinta dias após a OVX, amostras de sangue foram coletadas, para a dosagem hormonal e os animais foram submetidos à cirurgia de indução ao IM ou SHAM. Após oitos semanas, as ratas passaram pela avaliação ecocardiográfica. A partir desta, estabeleceu-se um corte de Fração de Ejeção (FE) <= 50% para definir o desenvolvimento de disfunção cardíaca a partir da realização do IM, constituindo dessa forma, os grupos INT+IM e OVX+IM. Com quatro semanas adicionais (totalizando 12 semanas após a indução do IM), houve a consolidação do quadro crônico de IC; então as ratas foram submetidas à avaliação hemodinâmica, da capacidade funcional e a nova coleta de sangue para dosagem hormonal. Após a eutanásia, os tecidos foram coletados para as análises morfológicas e histológicas. RESULTADOS: As ratas dos grupos OVX (OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM) não apresentaram ciclos ovarianos, demonstraram hipertrofia dos úteros e aumento do peso corporal final quando comparadas aos grupos INT (INT+SHAM e INT+IM), além de alterações na morfologia das glândulas adrenais - caracterizando o quadro de privação de hormônios ovarianos. As ratas dos grupos IM (INT+IM e OVX+IM) não tiveram alterações hemodinâmicas, contudo demonstraram reduzida capacidade funcional e piora nas variáveis ecocardiográficas (FE, FS, DSVE, TCIV) quando comparadas aos grupos SHAM (INT+SHAM e OVX+SHAM); as avaliações histológicas apontam valores de área infartada entorno de 40% e hipertrofia de septo nos grupos IM. Os animais não caracterizaram quadro de CC - caracterizada por diminuição do peso corporal, diminuição da densidade capilar na musculatura e atrofia das fibras musculares (m. sóleo) - após12 semanas de disfunção cardíaca / Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a systemic disease, which one of the possible progress is characterized by lean mass loss and intolerance to efforts, this framework is known as cardiac cachexia (CC). Studies in men and rats have shown that when HF is associated with hypogonadism it has a worse clinical condition and CC evolution, leading to a poor prognosis and increased mortality. For females, both in the pre menopause period than in the post menopause it is not known how the association of sex hormones deficiency with HF can impact the prognosis and mortality of female patients, as well as the development of CC. The objectives of this study were: 1) Evaluate the effect of HF on the possible CC development in female rats. 2) Evaluate the effect of HF on the production of sex hormones: Total testosterone, estradiol, FSH. METHODS: Female rats (Sprague Dawley strain, 60 days old) were divided according to the surgical procedures: intact rats (INT) or ovariectomy (OVX) rats with sham surgery (SHAM) of myocardial infarction (MI) or MI surgery. The combination of these procedures led to four groups: INT + SHAM, INT + MI, OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI. 30 days after OVX, blood samples were collected for hormone dosage and the animals have been underwent to surgery to the MI induction or SHAM. After eight weeks, the rats have gone through echocardiographic evaluation. From this procedure, it was established a cutting Ejection Fraction (EF) <= 50% to define the development of cardiac dysfunction from the realization of MI, constituting INT + IM and IM + OVX groups. With four additional weeks (totaling 12 weeks after MI induction), there was the consolidation of HF\'s chronic condition; female rats were subjected to evaluation of functional and hemodynamic capacity and a new blood collection for hormonal dosage. After euthanasia, tissues were collected for morphological and histological analyzes. RESULTS: The rats of the OVX groups (OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI) showed no ovarian cycles, demonstrated uterus\' hypertrophy and an increase in final body weight when compared to INT groups (INT + SHAM and INT + MI), changes in morphology of the adrenal glands - evidencing the situation of ovarian hormones deprivation. The rats of the MI group (INT + MI and OVX + MI) had no hemodynamic changes, but showed reduced functional capacity and deterioration of echocardiographic variables (EF, FS, LVSD, IVCT) when compared to SHAM groups (INT + SHAM and OVX + SHAM ); the histological evaluations indicate infarcted area values around 40% and septal hypertrophy at MI groups. The animals did not characterize CC - characterized by decreased body weight, decreased capillary density in the muscle and muscle fiber atrophy (m. soleus) - even after 12 weeks of cardiac dysfunction