Sex differences in endothelium-dependent reactions of rabbit arteries to elevated blood flow

Abstract

Acute experiments on anesthetized rabbits were performed to compare dilator responses of the carotid arteries in a wide range of blood flow rates. In males, the reactivity of vessels to changes in blood flow rate was higher than in females. Thirty percent of the revealed sex differences are due to various blood viscosities in males and females. The main factor determining these differences is a higher vascular tone in males.