On the haemodynamic consequence of the chemoreflex and muscle mechanoreflex interaction in women and men: two tales, one story

Abstract

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Sex‐related differences in the peripheral vascular response to reflex coactivation: Fun physiology or window of opportunity?

“…Including matched groups of male and female participants, Wan et al (2022) found the mechanoreflex and chemoreflex interact to restrain peripheral hemodynamics in male adults, consistent with their prior published data (Wan et al, 2020). By contrast, these same reflex interactions in a group of healthy, normal weight, pre-menopausal, female adults potentiated peripheral vasodilatation.…”

“…With this, it is also essential that we review these data through the lens of 'what's next?' The results obtained by Wan et al (2022) highlight that the same environmental stressors have the potential to elicit differing signs and symptoms in male vs. female adults. In the context of 'health' , as alluded by Wan et al (2022), it would be interesting to advance this work at altitude where exercise and chemoreflex activation coincide and where the majority of work has been conducted in a convenience sample of primarily young, healthy male adults.…”

“…With this, it is also essential that we review these data through the lens of ‘what's next?’ The results obtained by Wan et al. (2022) highlight that the same environmental stressors have the potential to elicit differing signs and symptoms in male vs . female adults.…”

“…It is also important to consider how the results of Wan et al. (2022) may directly impact individuals living with chronic conditions known to exhibit exaggerated mechano‐ and/or chemoreflexes (i.e. heart failure, hypertension, diabetes) but where the data come from cohorts of primarily male participants.…”

“…In closing, Wan et al. (2022) have identified interesting reflex interactions (particularly mechanoreflex and chemoreflex) that elicit divergent effects on the peripheral vasculature (leg blood flow) in young, healthy male and female participants. Whether these results can be translated to clinical populations and the implications for future ‘personalized medicine’ approaches remain unclear, but are worthy of exploration.…”