Sex-Specific Effects of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Endothelium-Dependent Dilation and Endothelin Activity in Middle-Aged Women and Men

Abstract

BackgroundHealthy middle-aged postmenopausal women have higher endothelium-dependent dilation and lower vasoconstrictor activity of endothelin-1 than men. Whether these sex-specific differences extend to patients with cardiovascular risk factors has not been investigated. The current study aimed to determine whether, in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, sex-specific differences exist in endothelium-dependent dilation and endothelin-1 activity.MethodsForearm blood flow responses were measured by strain-gauge plethysmography during the intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and the selective endothelin type A receptor blocker BQ-123 in 50 women and 64 men with cardiovascular risk factors.ResultsAcetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside induced a significant vasodilation in women and men alike (p < 0.01 for both). Also BQ-123 caused a significant vasodilation (p < 0.001) in both groups. The vasodilator response to acetylcholine was greater in women compared to men; however there were no differences in the response to sodium nitroprusside and BQ-123 (p = NS for both) between the two sex groups.ConclusionsMiddle-aged women with cardiovascular risk factors have significantly higher endothelium-dependent dilation than middle-aged men; however, vascular endothelin 1 activity is similar in the two groups. These findings suggest that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with sex-specific effects on endothelium-dependent dilation but not on endothelin 1 activity. Further study is needed to confirm our findings and to characterize the mechanisms underlying this sex-specific regulation of endothelial function.

Sex‐Specific Genetic Variants are Associated With Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction

“…Healthy women have been shown to have higher endothelium‐dependent dilation when compared to their male counterparts, and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors has been associated with sex‐specific effects on endothelium‐dependent dilation 8. The Women's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation study also suggested that sex plays a role in development of atherosclerosis, reporting increased likelihood of diffuse plaque formation in women when compared to men who developed discrete coronary lesions 9.…”

“…7 Healthy women have been shown to have higher endotheliumdependent dilation when compared to their male counterparts, and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors has been associated with sex-specific effects on endotheliumdependent dilation. 8 The Women's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation study also suggested that sex plays a role in development of atherosclerosis, reporting increased likelihood of diffuse plaque formation in women when compared to men who developed discrete coronary lesions. 9 Moreover, men have been shown to have a greater atheroma burden with more eccentric atheroma and diffuse epicardial endothelial dysfunction than women, suggesting increased structural and functional epicardial abnormalities when compared to their female counterparts.…”

Repeated superovulation increases the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases by accelerating ovarian aging in mice

“…Estrogens have a protective role in this regard in premenopausal women. However, after the decrease in estrogen levels, women are exposed to the same, or even higher, cardiovascular risks as males [ 18 , 19 ]. Because of this, we examined the echocardiography of the mice, especially the ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), which are the two most commonly used parameters for estimating cardiac function, in the two groups using a Vevo®1100 Imaging system.…”

Melatonin as an endogenous hormone to slow down the exhaustion of ovarian follicle reserve in mice–a novel insight into its roles in early folliculogenesis and ovarian aging

“…Ovarian aging, which refers to the physiological process of active loss of ovarian function in females before they age, is considered as a gain-of-function mutation that can effectively avoid the physiological burden and life threatening of the maternal body brought by the elderly pregnancy 1 . However, ovarian aging is not just the loss of reproductive capability, the lack of gonadal hormones caused by it can trigger many diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and menopausal syndrome [2][3][4][5] .…”