Fig. 3.

Testosterone increases tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (Timp1), serpin A 3n, IL-1β, and matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp8) in the heart of male mice during acute CVB3 myocarditis. Male BALB/c mice received a sham operation and a control capsule without testosterone (Sham-Con mice), were gonadectomized and received a control capsule (Gdx-Con mice), or gonadectomized and received a testosterone replacement capsule (Gdx-Te mice). After recovering from the gonadectomy for 2 wk, mice received CVB3 on day 0, and the expression of cardiac remodeling genes was examined at day 10 postinfection by ELISA (pg/ml) or RT-PCR [relative gene expression (RGE)]. Data show means ± SE; n = 10 mice/group. *Gdx-Con or Gdx-Te mice compared with Sham-Con mice by Student's t-test; #Gdx-Te mice compared with Gdx-Con mice by Student's t-test; * or #P < 0.05; ##P < 0.01. The three groups were significantly different by two-way ANOVA for Timp1, serpin A 3n, and IL-1β (†P < 0.05).