Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
Sex hormones play an important role in the cardiovascular system, and it is well accepted that women have the advantages of estrogen-based cardioprotection during their reproductive years. However, women with type-2 diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome, may lose the estrogen-based cardioprotection and could be at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) related morbidity and mortality. Elevated testosterone (T) level has been linked to many adverse pregnancy outcome such as intrauterine fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. My career goal is to elucidate the mechanism of sex hormone-based alteration in cardiovascular structure and function in health and disease. My central hypothesis is that elevated testosterone (T) in pregnant females increases the risk of CVD by altering cardiovascular structure and function in mothers and offspring. The project will enhance our knowledge of the role of testosterone on women’s cardiovascular system and elucidate the molecular mechanism of testosterone-induced cardiovascular programming.