EDITORIAL

Androgens, ageing and vascular function Circulating testosterone in males is well known to decline progressively with advancing age, a decline that is paralleled by a number of physiological changes including loss of bone and muscle mass; increased fat mass; impairment of physical, sexual and cognitive functions; loss of body hair; and decreased hemoglobin levels. Indeed, early-onset androgen deficiency produces similar changes [1]. In addition, androgens have an important influence on vascular function: the human androgen receptor is expressed in all vascular tissues, including endothelium, smooth muscle and myocardium [2]. Besides traditional modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, androgens have also been implicated in the relatively higher rate of cardiovascular disease in men. Excess exogenous androgens certainly see